Syrian rebel groups call on al-Qaeda faction to withdraw from Azaz

 Rebel fighters gather in the Salaheddin district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on September 23, 2013. (Photo: AFP - Salah al-Ashkar)

Six of the most powerful rebel factions in Syria issued a joint statement on Thursday telling an al-Qaeda front group to withdraw from the northern town of Azaz bordering Turkey.
In a separate statement, rebels in central Syria also called on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to leave Homs province.
The statements came amid fresh clashes between ISIL militants and the mainstream rebel Northern Storm brigade in Azaz.
Hours before the statement by the six rebel groups was made public, hundreds of ISIL fighters were advancing towards the border post with Turkey near Azaz.
Major rebel groups Ahrar al-Sham, Liwa al-Tawhid and Jaysh al-Islam all signed the statement urging "our brothers in ISIL to withdraw their troops and vehicles to their main headquarters immediately".