A summary of today's events in Syria so far, from Al Jazeera's Syria desk:

- Heavy shelling and fierce battles have raged in several Aleppo neighbourhoods, with Saleheddine the worst hit. Anti-government forces say that the army is lining up tanks to enter the area, and the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), an anti-government rights watchdog, says that at least 18 people, including several Syrian army soldiers, have been killed in Aleppo on Saturday. The group said that four others were killed in other parts of Aleppo.

- Fighting has also been reported in Homs, Rastan and Deraa.

- Russia has warned that a "tragedy" is looming in Aleppo, but also says that it is unrealistic to expect the government to stand by and do nothing when armed rebels begin to occupy major cities.

- Russia has also reiterated that it will not be cooperating with a new round of European Union sanctions against Syria, and that it would not consent to inspections of ships bound for Syria that are flying the Russian flag.

- The SOHR has released an updated death toll for the violence since the uprising began in March 2011. "At least 20,028 people, among them 13,978 civilians and rebels, 968 army defectors and 5,082 members of the regime forces have been killed since the start of the revolt on March 15 of last year," Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the UK-based Observatory, which supports the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, told the AFP news agency.

-  Saudi Crown Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz who is also deputy prime minister and defence minister says a five-day Saudi fundraising campaign to support people in Syria has raised more than $72.33 million.

- The Iranian Fars news agency reports that a Syrian economic delegation has toured Iran this week and signed deals regarding the export of electricity from Iran to Syria.

- Syrian State TV said govt forces freed two Italian workers kidnapped by "terrorists". 

- Iraqi Kurdish security forces appear to be stopping soldiers sent from Bagdad from reaching the border that they have been sent to protect.