Syria crisis: Dozens killed by Aleppo university blasts

More than 50 people have been killed by two blasts in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, BBC reports.

The explosions reportedly struck an area between the University of Aleppo's halls of residence and the architecture faculty on the first day of exams.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 52, but Aleppo's governor said 82 people had died.

State TV said "terrorists" had launched rockets at the campus, but activists blamed missiles fired by warplanes.

In almost two years of fighting in Syria, Aleppo has been the scene of intense conflict between government and opposition forces.

However, neither side has been able to force the other to retreat for good, says the BBC's James Reynolds in neighbouring Turkey.

Rebels have previously carried out bombings against government targets in Aleppo. In October, at least 34 people were killed in a series of bombings in the city's main square.

The United Nations says more than 60,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.

Meanwhile, Russia has rejected a request from more than 50 countries to have the UN Security Council refer the conflict in Syria to the International Criminal Court, calling the initiative "ill-timed and counterproductive".