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| Syria conflict: Blasts in Homs and Damascus 'kill dozens' | Syria conflict: Blasts in Homs and Damascus 'kill dozens' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A series of explosions in the Syrian cities of Homs and Damascus have left dozens of people dead, monitors and state media say. | A series of explosions in the Syrian cities of Homs and Damascus have left dozens of people dead, monitors and state media say. |
| In Homs, at least 57 people, mainly civilians, were killed in a double car bombing, a monitoring group reported. | In Homs, at least 57 people, mainly civilians, were killed in a double car bombing, a monitoring group reported. |
| At least four blasts were later heard in the southern Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, causing at least 30 deaths, state media said. | |
| It is not yet clear who carried out the attacks. | It is not yet clear who carried out the attacks. |
| However, the so-called Islamic State (IS) has targeted both areas in the past. | However, the so-called Islamic State (IS) has targeted both areas in the past. |
| Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said a "provisional agreement" has been reached with Russia on a partial truce in the conflict. | Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said a "provisional agreement" has been reached with Russia on a partial truce in the conflict. |
| Story of the conflict | Story of the conflict |
| Mapping the conflict | Mapping the conflict |
| Homs carnage | Homs carnage |
| The attacks in Homs happened in a predominantly Alawite district, the minority sect to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs. | The attacks in Homs happened in a predominantly Alawite district, the minority sect to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs. |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group warned that, with a large number of people injured, the death toll was likely to rise. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group warned that, with a large number of people injured, the death toll was likely to rise. |
| Homs, one of the early centres of the uprising against President Assad, was once dubbed the "capital of the revolution". | Homs, one of the early centres of the uprising against President Assad, was once dubbed the "capital of the revolution". |
| But rebels left the city late last year under a ceasefire deal, leaving the city in government hands. | But rebels left the city late last year under a ceasefire deal, leaving the city in government hands. |
| There are few details yet about the explosions in Sayyida Zeinab, the location of Syria's holiest Shia Muslim shrine, said to contain the grave of the Prophet Muhammad's granddaughter. | |
| The Observatory reported at least four blasts. At least one car bomb was involved, reports said. | |
| The district was hit by suicide attacks last month that left 71 people dead and which IS fighters said they had carried out. | The district was hit by suicide attacks last month that left 71 people dead and which IS fighters said they had carried out. |
| The Observatory also said that at least 50 Islamic State fighters had been killed in an advance by government troops, backed by Russian air strikes, east of the northern city of Aleppo in the past 24 hours. | The Observatory also said that at least 50 Islamic State fighters had been killed in an advance by government troops, backed by Russian air strikes, east of the northern city of Aleppo in the past 24 hours. |
| 'My duty' | 'My duty' |
| After speaking with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Mr Kerry said the world was "closer to a ceasefire today than we have been". | After speaking with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Mr Kerry said the world was "closer to a ceasefire today than we have been". |
| Earlier this month, world powers involved in Syria agreed to seek a "cessation of hostilities" but the Friday deadline has come and gone. | Earlier this month, world powers involved in Syria agreed to seek a "cessation of hostilities" but the Friday deadline has come and gone. |
| Mr Kerry said on Sunday that he and Mr Lavrov had agreed the terms of the cessation but stressed that details still needed to be resolved. | Mr Kerry said on Sunday that he and Mr Lavrov had agreed the terms of the cessation but stressed that details still needed to be resolved. |
| Meanwhile, President Assad has said he hopes to be remembered as the man who "saved" Syria. | Meanwhile, President Assad has said he hopes to be remembered as the man who "saved" Syria. |
| Asked by Spanish newspaper El Pais where he would see himself in 10 years' time, he said: "If Syria is safe and sound, and I'm the one who saved his country - that's my job now, that's my duty." | Asked by Spanish newspaper El Pais where he would see himself in 10 years' time, he said: "If Syria is safe and sound, and I'm the one who saved his country - that's my job now, that's my duty." |
| Mr Assad also said his army was close to encircling rebel-held parts of the key northern city of Aleppo, and were advancing on Raqqa, the main stronghold of IS fighters. | Mr Assad also said his army was close to encircling rebel-held parts of the key northern city of Aleppo, and were advancing on Raqqa, the main stronghold of IS fighters. |
| He said he was ready to implement a temporary truce as long as there were guarantees what he called "terrorists" would not use it to improve their positions. | He said he was ready to implement a temporary truce as long as there were guarantees what he called "terrorists" would not use it to improve their positions. |
| Separately, Amnesty International has criticised Turkey for refusing entry to some Syrians wounded in the latest fighting, urging it to keep its border open. | Separately, Amnesty International has criticised Turkey for refusing entry to some Syrians wounded in the latest fighting, urging it to keep its border open. |
| Amnesty's crisis response director, Tirana Hassan, said: "Turkey's highly selective practice is appalling - only severely injured people are allowed entry to seek medical treatment while everyone else fleeing the violence is left unprotected." | Amnesty's crisis response director, Tirana Hassan, said: "Turkey's highly selective practice is appalling - only severely injured people are allowed entry to seek medical treatment while everyone else fleeing the violence is left unprotected." |