Syrian rebels kidnap presidential hopeful

Syrian rebels say that have kidnapped a presidential hopeful whose attempt to register as a candidate was turned down by the constitutional court. Unverified footage purports to show Mohammed Kanan claiming to have been forced by the Assad regime to run for the presidency. Video of a massive blast has also been posted on the internet by opposition rebels.It is said to have taken place in northwestern Idlib province. The rebels claim 30 government fighters died when insurgents from the Islamic Front set off explosives in a tunnel beneath a checkpoint. More than 150.000 people have been killed in the three-year-old rebellion against the government. Next month presidential elections are widely expected to return President Bashar al-Assad to power.