Shelling Wounds Two on Turkish-Syrian Border

Shelling by Syrian government forces trying to win back a border post seized by rebels left two Turkish civilians wounded Thursday, a Turkish official told AFP.

They were injured by four fragments of a shell that exploded just on the Syrian side of the border, the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that another unexploded shell was found and the area sealed off while it was detonated.

Syrian rebels Wednesday seized control of the Tall al-Abyad border post on the main highway between the city of Raqa in northeastern Syria and the Turkish city of Sanliurfa after fierce clashes with troops loyal to President Bashar Assad.

Turkish media footage showed Syrian rebels pulling down the Syrian flag at the border post.

"The clashes are raging today (Thursday) as regime forces are shelling the area to recapture the border post," the Turkish official said.

He added that any wounded would be allowed into Turkey on an emergency basis but that otherwise the crossing, one of just seven that had still been functioning on the border with Syria, had now been temporarily closed.

Stray bullets fired from the Syrian side wounded Tuesday three civilians in Akcakale, across the border from Tall al-Abyad, local officials said.

They warned citizens to stay away from the border line and schools in the area were closed for safety reasons until Monday.

Tall al-Abyad is about 100 kilometers (65 miles) north of Raqa and the border post was relatively little used until recently.

Since late July, Syrian rebels fighting Assad's regime have seized control of at least three key border crossings with Turkey -- Bab al-Hawa, Al-Salama and Jarabulus.

They have also seized crossings on Syria's eastern border with Iraq.