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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Syria crisis: Blast near Damascus military compound | Syria crisis: Blast near Damascus military compound |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A large explosion has struck close to a military compound in the Syrian capital, Damascus, near a hotel used by the UN's observer mission. | A large explosion has struck close to a military compound in the Syrian capital, Damascus, near a hotel used by the UN's observer mission. |
| Syrian state TV reported that three people had been injured in the blast, but that none of them were UN monitors. | Syrian state TV reported that three people had been injured in the blast, but that none of them were UN monitors. |
| Images from Damascus showed a huge plume of smoke coming from the area in the city centre and several ambulances were seen rushing towards site. | |
| The intended target of the explosion was not immediately clear. | |
| State television said it had been caused by a bomb near a fuel truck planted in a car park near the hotel, but other reports suggested it had been an improvised explosive device (IED). | |
| The blast set fire to a nearby building and charred several vehicles. UN vehicles in the nearby car park were seen covered in dust and debris. | |
| Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad visited the scene of the blast, telling state media it was "a criminal act aimed at distorting Syria's image". | |
| "I confirm that we are with the UN and we will do all we can to guarantee their protection so that they carry out their role," he said. | |
| There are several government and military buildings in the vicinity and a BBC correspondent in Damascus says the area around the hotel, the Dama Rose, is a high-security zone. | |
| Eyewitness Jean Pierre Duthion, who lives nearby, told the BBC there were tight restrictions on entering the area, with residents unable to come and go easily. | |
| 'Gunfire' | |
| A senior member of the main rebel force the Free Syrian Army (FSA) told AFP news agency it had carried out the attack. | |
| "The FSA operation targeted a military command office with explosives designed to go off at a meeting of army officers and members of the shabiha [pro-government militia] which decides on daily operations in Damascus," said Maher Nuwaimi. | |
| His claim could not be immediately verified. | |
| The latest violence comes as a group of Islamic countries prepares to meet in the Saudi city of Mecca to discuss the crisis. | The latest violence comes as a group of Islamic countries prepares to meet in the Saudi city of Mecca to discuss the crisis. |
| The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Co-operation is expected to suspend Syria's membership, despite objections from Iran, Syria's last regional ally. | The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Co-operation is expected to suspend Syria's membership, despite objections from Iran, Syria's last regional ally. |
| The capital had been relatively quiet since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March last year, but the violence has spread there in recent weeks. | |
| Last month a bomb at the national security headquarters killed three of President Bashar al-Assad's security chiefs. | |
| Are you in Damascus and did you witness the blast? Do you have family in Syria? You can send us your comments using the form below. | |
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