Rebels battle for Syria border post near Mediterranean

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* Syria says Turkey helped rebel assault on border crossing * Heavy fighting continues after dozens killed on Friday * Jordan's king warns Syria could fragment By Dominic Evans March 22 (Reuters) - Islamist fighters in Syria battled President Bashar al-Assad's forces for control of a border crossing with Turkey close to the Mediterranean on Saturday, part of an offensive aimed at opening up a rebel link to the sea. They said heavy clashes continued around Kasab crossing and a nearby village of the same name - both about 5 miles (8 km) from the coast - a day after rebels launched their assault. Assad's forces have already lost control of most border crossings with Turkey during the three year civil war but had held on to Kasab, gateway to the coastal province of Latakia which has remained an Assad stronghold. Syrian authorities accused Turkey of helping the fighters launch their attack on Kasab from Turkish territory, saying Ankara's army "provided cover for this terrorist attack" on the wooded and hilly border region.

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