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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. The intended target was unclear but Syrian state TV reported that three people had been hurt in the blast and none of them were UN monitors.
The intended target of the explosion was not immediately clear. Fighting has broken out between the army and rebels in another part of the capital, activists and state media say.
Meanwhile UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, who is visiting Syria, has said it should be made easier for aid to be delivered to civilians. Clashes were reported in Mezzeh, near the prime minister's office.
Later on Wednesday, the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) is expected to suspend Syria's membership over the violence. According to activist groups, shelling was also taking place in the al-Qadam and al-Asali districts.
UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, who is in Damascus, tweeted that she was unable to access the Damascus suburb of Douma, and could hear the sounds of shelling.
'Fireball'
State television said Wednesday's blast 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).State television said Wednesday's blast 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).
Images from the scene showed several charred vehicles, including a tanker which had had its rear section blown out. UN vehicles in the nearby car park were seen covered in dust and debris.Images from the scene showed several charred vehicles, including a tanker which had had its rear section blown out. UN vehicles in the nearby car park were seen covered in dust and debris.
"There was a huge explosion and a fireball, and soldiers were thrown to the ground by the blast," a military officer told the AFP news agency."There was a huge explosion and a fireball, and soldiers were thrown to the ground by the blast," a military officer told the AFP news agency.
There are several government and military buildings in the vicinity. A BBC correspondent in Damascus says the area around the hotel, the Dama Rose, is a high-security zone.There are several government and military buildings in the vicinity. A BBC correspondent in Damascus says the area around the hotel, the Dama Rose, is a high-security zone.
Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad visited the scene and told state media it was "a criminal act aimed at distorting Syria's image". He called on the international community to "work hand-in-hand against terrorism".Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad visited the scene and told state media it was "a criminal act aimed at distorting Syria's image". He called on the international community to "work hand-in-hand against terrorism".
"Our primary goal is to secure the observer mission team and thank God no one from this mission has been hurt since it arrived in Syria," he said."Our primary goal is to secure the observer mission team and thank God no one from this mission has been hurt since it arrived in Syria," he said.
A senior member of the main rebel force, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), told the AFP news agency it had carried out the attack and that it had been "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".A senior member of the main rebel force, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), told the AFP news agency it had carried out the attack and that it had been "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".
"This operation aims to boost the morale of the FSA and tell Bashar al-Assad and his command that we can conduct carefully planned operations because we know what is happening in their ranks," he said."This operation aims to boost the morale of the FSA and tell Bashar al-Assad and his command that we can conduct carefully planned operations because we know what is happening in their ranks," he said.
His claim could not be immediately verified.His claim could not be immediately verified.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • The UK-based opposition activists group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes in the Mezzeh district of Damascus, close to the prime minister's office - it said government troops and rebels were engaged in a shootout.
  • The Observatory said the al-Qadam and al-Asali districts had also been bombarded.
    •
  • Human Rights Watch has accused the Syrian military of breaking international law and showing "blatant disregard for civilian lives" by using fighter planes to attack a hospital in Aleppo on Tuesday.
  • Top US military officer Gen Martin Dempsey said on Tuesday there was evidence that Iran was helping to build and train a militia in Syria to prop up Mr Assad.
  • US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said Iran was providing assistance and training for the Syrian regime.
Aid appeal
  • Human Rights Watch has accused the Syrian military of breaking international law and showing "blatant disregard for civilian lives" by using fighter planes to attack a hospital in Aleppo on Tuesday.
  • Top US military officer Gen Martin Dempsey said on Tuesday there was evidence that Iran was helping to build and train a militia in Syria to prop up Mr Assad.
  • US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said Iran was providing assistance and training for the Syrian regime.
Aid appeal
At first Damascus remained relatively quiet after the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March last year, but the violence has spread there in recent weeks.At first Damascus remained relatively quiet after 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 Assad's security chiefs.Last month a bomb at the national security headquarters killed three of President Assad's security chiefs.
Speaking in the capital before the explosion, Baroness Amos told the BBC the humanitarian situation had deteriorated since her last visit in March and that more than a million people were in need of aid. Meanwhile Baroness Amos, during her visit to Syria, has said it should be made easier for aid to be delivered to civilians.
She said the Syrian government had made clear that it wanted to stay in control of the aid response effort, and was concerned that aid from the UN could be used to support the armed rebel groups.She said the Syrian government had made clear that it wanted to stay in control of the aid response effort, and was concerned that aid from the UN could be used to support the armed rebel groups.
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent were "doing a good job but their capacity is stretched", she added, and called on the government to allow more international and national NGOs to operate in Syria.The Syrian Arab Red Crescent were "doing a good job but their capacity is stretched", she added, and called on the government to allow more international and national NGOs to operate in Syria.
"I'm also asking that the administrative procedures that are put in place... are made less cumbersome so that our response effort can be much quicker and that we can get to people as effectively and as quickly as we can." Later on Wednesday, the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) is expected to suspend Syria's membership over the violence.
Later, Baroness Amos tweeted that she was unable to access the Damascus suburb of Douma, and could hear the sounds of shelling.
At their meeting in the Saudi city of Mecca, the 57-member organisation OIC is expected to endorse a statement put forward by its members' foreign ministers that Syria should be suspended because of its "obstinacy" in seeking a military resolution to the uprising.At their meeting in the Saudi city of Mecca, the 57-member organisation OIC is expected to endorse a statement put forward by its members' foreign ministers that Syria should be suspended because of its "obstinacy" in seeking a military resolution to the uprising.
A draft copy of the proposal seen by AFP demands that the authorities "immediately end all acts of violence" while defending Syria's "unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity".A draft copy of the proposal seen by AFP demands that the authorities "immediately end all acts of violence" while defending Syria's "unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity".
Iran, Syria's only regional ally, opposes the measure - it said in recent weeks that Syria was a vital part of a regional alliance which Tehran would not allow to be broken.Iran, Syria's only regional ally, opposes the measure - it said in recent weeks that Syria was a vital part of a regional alliance which Tehran would not allow to be broken.
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.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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