This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35454359
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Syria conflict: Dozens killed near Sayyida Zeinab shrine | Syria conflict: Dozens killed near Sayyida Zeinab shrine |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 45 people have been killed in three blasts near the Shia shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, south of the Syrian capital Damascus, state media say. | At least 45 people have been killed in three blasts near the Shia shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, south of the Syrian capital Damascus, state media say. |
| Scores of people were also reported to have been wounded. | Scores of people were also reported to have been wounded. |
| The shrine, which is highly revered by Shia Muslims, has been targeted before, most recently in February last year. | The shrine, which is highly revered by Shia Muslims, has been targeted before, most recently in February last year. |
| The attacks came as delegates from the Syrian government and opposition groups gathered in Geneva for tentative UN-sponsored peace talks. | The attacks came as delegates from the Syrian government and opposition groups gathered in Geneva for tentative UN-sponsored peace talks. |
| The main opposition group backed down from its threat to boycott the talks. but says the Syrian government must meet key demands if negotiations are to start. | The main opposition group backed down from its threat to boycott the talks. but says the Syrian government must meet key demands if negotiations are to start. |
| What hope for the talks? | What hope for the talks? |
| International system has failed Syria | International system has failed Syria |
| The story of the conflict | The story of the conflict |
| Syrian state media say the blasts near Sayyida Zeinab were caused by a car bomb and two suicide bombers. | Syrian state media say the blasts near Sayyida Zeinab were caused by a car bomb and two suicide bombers. |
| TV footage showed burning buildings and destroyed cars. | TV footage showed burning buildings and destroyed cars. |
| The shrine contains the grave of one of the Prophet Muhammad's grand-daughters. It continues to draw many Shia pilgrims, despite the civil war. | The shrine contains the grave of one of the Prophet Muhammad's grand-daughters. It continues to draw many Shia pilgrims, despite the civil war. |
| At the scene: Rami Ruhayem, BBC Arabic, south-eastern Damascus | |
| The destruction is huge. The building in front of me on Koua Soudan Street is charred black in the middle. I'm told that there is a military headquarters on the ground floor and families also lived in the five-storey building. | The destruction is huge. The building in front of me on Koua Soudan Street is charred black in the middle. I'm told that there is a military headquarters on the ground floor and families also lived in the five-storey building. |
| There is a fruit stall with blackened oranges all over the floor. | There is a fruit stall with blackened oranges all over the floor. |
| I can also see a large number of charred vehicles, including a bus in the middle of the street which is almost completely destroyed and overturned. The smoke is still rising from one of the cars on the side of the street. | I can also see a large number of charred vehicles, including a bus in the middle of the street which is almost completely destroyed and overturned. The smoke is still rising from one of the cars on the side of the street. |
| BBC Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher says Shia fighters from around the region have joined the conflict in Syria on the grounds that they wish to protect the shrine from the civil war. | BBC Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher says Shia fighters from around the region have joined the conflict in Syria on the grounds that they wish to protect the shrine from the civil war. |
| The Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah has cited it as a key reason that it chose to fight on the side of President Bashar al-Assad, he adds. | The Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah has cited it as a key reason that it chose to fight on the side of President Bashar al-Assad, he adds. |
| More than 250,000 people have died and 11 million have fled their homes in almost five years of civil war in Syria. The violence has also been the biggest driver behind Europe's migration crisis. | More than 250,000 people have died and 11 million have fled their homes in almost five years of civil war in Syria. The violence has also been the biggest driver behind Europe's migration crisis. |
| In Geneva, the delegation of the Saudi-backed opposition group the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) met UN envoy Staffan de Mistura on Sunday. | In Geneva, the delegation of the Saudi-backed opposition group the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) met UN envoy Staffan de Mistura on Sunday. |
| Mr Mistura described the talks as "a good start" and told the BBC he was "optimistic". He said the HNC would give more details later. | Mr Mistura described the talks as "a good start" and told the BBC he was "optimistic". He said the HNC would give more details later. |
| Earlier, HNC spokesman Salim Muslet had said that they stood by their demand for an end to air strikes and blockades before they would negotiate with the Syrian government. | Earlier, HNC spokesman Salim Muslet had said that they stood by their demand for an end to air strikes and blockades before they would negotiate with the Syrian government. |
| The HNC finally agreed late on Friday that it would travel to Geneva - hours after the Syrian government delegation had arrived and held preliminary talks with Mr Mistura. | The HNC finally agreed late on Friday that it would travel to Geneva - hours after the Syrian government delegation had arrived and held preliminary talks with Mr Mistura. |
| The so-called proximity talks are expected to last six months, with delegations sitting in separate rooms and UN officials shuttling between them. | The so-called proximity talks are expected to last six months, with delegations sitting in separate rooms and UN officials shuttling between them. |
| UN chief Ban Ki-moon called on all sides to put the interests of Syrians above their own. | UN chief Ban Ki-moon called on all sides to put the interests of Syrians above their own. |
| "Children and women in particular have borne the brunt of this fighting and it is time now to see the end of the fighting and other human rights abuses that have dominated the war," he said. | "Children and women in particular have borne the brunt of this fighting and it is time now to see the end of the fighting and other human rights abuses that have dominated the war," he said. |