Battle for Aleppo escalates, U.N. sees 'bleak moment'

By Tom Perry and Lisa Barrington BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels fought fiercely with pro-government forces trying to advance into opposition-held areas of eastern Aleppo on Friday and warplanes kept up their bombardment of the area in a renewed bid by Damascus to retake the entire city. The U.N. humanitarian adviser said on Friday the besieged population of eastern Aleppo faced a "very bleak moment" with no food or medical supplies, winter approaching, and an increasingly fierce attack by Syri