Heavy fighting inside Damascus: witness

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Opposition fighters battled Syrian government forces in districts in the south of Damascus on Sunday, some of the most intensive daytime fighting yet inside the city limits of the capital.

Activist Samir al-Shami, who spoke to Reuters by Skype from Damascus, said the fighting was under way in the poor al-Tadamon district, after a night of sustained battles in the nearby Hajar al-Aswad district.

"There is the sound of heavy gunfire. And there is smoke rising from the area. There are already some wounded and residents are trying to flee the area," he said, showing live video images of smoke visible over the skyline.

"There are also armoured vehicles heading towards the southern part of the neighborhood."

(Reporting by Erika Solomon; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Alison Williams)