DAMASCUS, Dec. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Syrian security forces clashed with several gunmen in a major northern city on Sunday, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera television reported.

    The gunmen blew up their car after they were encircled by the security forces in the city of Aleppo, about 350 km north of Damascus, said the report.

    Three militants were believed in the car when it was blown up, the report added.

    There is no official confirmation of the al-Jazeera report at the moment.

    Syrian security forces have clashed several times with militants and arrested dozens of them in recent months amid an intensified security control around the country.