The Free Syrian Army said the aircraft had been firing at people in the north-eastern district of Jobar, and that it had crashed in neighbouring Qabun.

 

State television confirmed that a helicopter had come down in Qabun.

 

Activists² said regime forces killed at least 37 people in the suburbs of Damascus through army shelling and helicopter attacks.

 

There has been an outcry over allegations that government forces killed more than 300 people during an assault on the south-western suburb of Darayya.

 

Unverified video footage and photographs have emerged over the weekend showing scores of bodies, including those of women and children.

 

State media blamed the opposition³ for the killings⁴ and said Darayya had been "cleansed⁵ of terrorist remnants".

 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was shocked by reports of "an appalling⁶ and brutal⁷ crime".

 

He called for an independent inquiry⁸ into the allegations.

 

Meanwhile French President Hollande has urged Syrian opposition groups to form a provisional government.

 

He told a meeting of French ambassadors that France would recognise the government as "the legitimate⁹ representative of the new Syria".

 

 

According to opposition activists, the military helicopter was shot down as it was bombarding Jobar, as heavy fighting broke out between rebels and government forces.

 

Witnesses told the Reuters news agency the helicopter burst into flames after being hit by a projectile¹⁰（抛射的） during an exchange of fire and crashed in a narrow residential¹¹ street in Qabun.

 

"It was flying overhead the eastern part of the city and firing all morning. The rebels had been trying to hit it for about an hour, and finally they did," said Abu Bakr, a local activist¹.

 

Activists posted video footage online which appears to show a burning helicopter crashing to the ground. Rebels can be heard shouting: "Allahu Akbar (God is greatest)."

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