Syrian forces capture key city of Idlib

Syrian forces have seized control of the north-western city of Idlib, after pounding the rebel stronghold with artillery for four days.The capture comes a day after an Amnesty International report detailed claims of torture by Syrian troops, and two weeks after the fall of rebel stronghold Baba Amr.Rebel troops in Idlib fled the city, which has been a stronghold of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) for weeks, as government soldiers closed in.Idlib lies close to the border with Turkey - an area where the Syrian regime is accused of planting landmines to stop refugees fleeing.Since last night there has been no more fighting, activist Noureddin al-Abdo said.The FSA preferred to withdraw because everyone knows it cannot resist the army.Activists inside Idlib say security forces are now carrying out house to house searches.