Syrian forces capture town near chemical weapons site - group

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government forces have captured a northern town located near a site linked to the country's chemical weapons programme after days of heavy fighting, a monitoring group said.

The town, Safira, is also located on a strategic road that could be used to relieve government-controlled areas of Aleppo, a major nearby city. It had been controlled by rebels including some from units linked to al Qaeda.