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Syria unrest: Aleppo bomb attacks 'kill 25' Syria unrest: Aleppo bomb attacks 'kill 25'
(40 minutes later)
At least 25 people have been killed by two bomb two attacks targeting security forces compounds in Syria's second city of Aleppo, state media report. At least 25 people have been killed by two bombs targeting security forces compounds in Syria's second city of Aleppo, state media report.
State television said the death toll included both civilians and members of the security forces and blamed "armed terrorist gangs" for the blasts.State television said the death toll included both civilians and members of the security forces and blamed "armed terrorist gangs" for the blasts.
There are conflicting reports about whether the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) was behind the attacks.There are conflicting reports about whether the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) was behind the attacks.
A spokesman appeared to confirm that it was, but another blamed the government.A spokesman appeared to confirm that it was, but another blamed the government.
"What happened in Aleppo was an military attack against Military Intelligence, with shells, rockets and bombs. A number of walls collapsed and there were some people killed from the military base. This was not a car bomb but a military operation," said Col Arif al-Hamoud told BBC Arabic by telephone from Turkey. Col Malik al-Kurdi, the FSA's deputy leader, told BBC Arabic that it had been monitoring the activity of security forces personnel and members of the pro-government Shabiha militia inside a Military Intelligence compound and a riot police base in Aleppo on Friday morning.
Later, another FSA spokesman, Col Mahir Nouaimi, told AFP: "This criminal regime is killing our children in Homs and carrying out bomb attacks in Aleppo to steer attention away from what it is doing in Homs." "When they were gathering in a square to go to the mosques and repress demonstrations, two groups from the FSA targeted the two buildings with small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire," he said.
"After violent clashes, there was an explosion inside the Military Intelligence building. At first we didn't know what it was, but we think it was the regime trying to stop the operation of the FSA," he added.
Another FSA spokesman, Col Mahir Nouaimi, told AFP: "This criminal regime is killing our children in Homs and carrying out bomb attacks in Aleppo to steer attention away from what it is doing in Homs."
Opposition activists also said the government was responsible, accusing it of trying to discredit the uprising. Suspicious activity by security personnel had been noticed shortly before the blasts, they added.Opposition activists also said the government was responsible, accusing it of trying to discredit the uprising. Suspicious activity by security personnel had been noticed shortly before the blasts, they added.
'Suspicious activity''Suspicious activity'
Syrian state TV broadcast images showing at least five corpses and mangled body parts after what it said were two bombings outside a Military Intelligence compound and a riot police base in Aleppo on Friday. Syrian state TV broadcast images showing at least five corpses and mangled body parts.
A weeping TV reporter said the bomb targeting intelligence building went off near a park, where people had gathered for breakfast and children had been playing. A weeping TV reporter said the bomb targeting an intelligence building went off near a park, where people had gathered for breakfast and children had been playing.
Some children were killed in the blast, he said, holding up a roller-blade. Some children were killed in the blast, he said, holding up an inline-skate.
Bulldozers could be seen in the TV footage clearing debris that filled the street, and nearby residential buildings appeared to have had their windows shattered.Bulldozers could be seen in the TV footage clearing debris that filled the street, and nearby residential buildings appeared to have had their windows shattered.
"Civilians and members of the military were martyred and wounded in the terrorist explosions that targeted Aleppo,'' the channel reported."Civilians and members of the military were martyred and wounded in the terrorist explosions that targeted Aleppo,'' the channel reported.
The channel showed similar footage from the site of the second explosion, which the reporter said was the result of a suicide car bombing.The channel showed similar footage from the site of the second explosion, which the reporter said was the result of a suicide car bombing.
The blast left a crater several metres wide in the road, blew a lorry onto its side, and hurled chunks of concrete over a wide area.The blast left a crater several metres wide in the road, blew a lorry onto its side, and hurled chunks of concrete over a wide area.
Emergency workers were shown holding up body parts - including hands, feet and a torso - which they placed in black bin bags.Emergency workers were shown holding up body parts - including hands, feet and a torso - which they placed in black bin bags.
State TV later quoted the health ministry as saying that 25 people had been killed and 175 wounded as a result of the attacks.State TV later quoted the health ministry as saying that 25 people had been killed and 175 wounded as a result of the attacks.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that there had been two explosions, after earlier reporting that residents had told the group that there had been three.The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that there had been two explosions, after earlier reporting that residents had told the group that there had been three.
Aleppo, a mercantile city, has seen only minor protests and relatively little violence since the uprising against President al-Assad erupted in March, which human rights groups say has left more than 7,000 civilians dead.Aleppo, a mercantile city, has seen only minor protests and relatively little violence since the uprising against President al-Assad erupted in March, which human rights groups say has left more than 7,000 civilians dead.
On 6 January, 26 people were killed in what officials said was a suicide bombing in Damascus. Two weeks earlier, 44 reportedly died in twin suicide bomb attacks targeting security compounds in the capital.On 6 January, 26 people were killed in what officials said was a suicide bombing in Damascus. Two weeks earlier, 44 reportedly died in twin suicide bomb attacks targeting security compounds in the capital.
Meanwhile, residents of the central city of Homs say tanks are massed outside several opposition-held districts.Meanwhile, residents of the central city of Homs say tanks are massed outside several opposition-held districts.
Overnight, tanks entered the district of Inshaat, next to the protest centre of Baba Amr, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.Overnight, tanks entered the district of Inshaat, next to the protest centre of Baba Amr, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
There was also sporadic shelling and gunfire throughout the city during the morning. There was also sporadic shelling and gunfire throughout the city on Friday. At least four people were reportedly killed in Baba Amr.
Activists say the intense bombardment of many parts of Homs by security forces since Saturday has left more than 400 people dead. US President Barack Obama has condemned the "outrageous bloodshed".Activists say the intense bombardment of many parts of Homs by security forces since Saturday has left more than 400 people dead. US President Barack Obama has condemned the "outrageous bloodshed".
The opposition has called for nationwide protests on Friday to denounce Russia's veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling on President Bashar al-Assad's government to stop killing its own people. The opposition called for nationwide protests on Friday to denounce Russia's veto of a UN Security Council resolution demanding President Bashar al-Assad's government stop killing its own people.
The Local Co-ordination Committees, another activist group, said troops had opened fire to disperse thousands of protesters who filled the streets following Friday prayers in Aleppo, Homs, the north-western coastal city of Latakia, the southern city of Daraa, and the Damascus suburbs.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the opposition "bore full responsibility" because it had refused to begin talks with the government and accused Western powers of being "accomplices".Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the opposition "bore full responsibility" because it had refused to begin talks with the government and accused Western powers of being "accomplices".
But Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah criticised Russia's support of Mr Assad.But Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah criticised Russia's support of Mr Assad.
"There is no doubt that the confidence of the world in the United Nations has been shaken," he said on Saudi state TV on Friday. "Unfortunately, what happened in the UN, in my opinion, is an unfavourable initiative.""There is no doubt that the confidence of the world in the United Nations has been shaken," he said on Saudi state TV on Friday. "Unfortunately, what happened in the UN, in my opinion, is an unfavourable initiative."
Are you in Aleppo? Have you witnessed the explosions? Send us your stories using the form below.Are you in Aleppo? Have you witnessed the explosions? Send us your stories using the form below.
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