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Damascus bombers 'hit Syria military HQ' Damascus bombers 'hit Syria military HQ'
(35 minutes later)
Two large explosions have shaken the centre of Syria's capital Damascus, near the military general staff headquarters.Two large explosions have shaken the centre of Syria's capital Damascus, near the military general staff headquarters.
The blasts happened just before 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) in an area dominated by government buildings.The blasts happened just before 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) in an area dominated by government buildings.
Information Minister Omran Zoabi said two roadside bombs caused the blasts, and said one might have been inside the main military compound.Information Minister Omran Zoabi said two roadside bombs caused the blasts, and said one might have been inside the main military compound.
Witnesses said the main building of the compound had been set on fire. The anti-regime Free Syrian Army said they carried out the attack.
State media said only that fires had broken out near the military headquarters. The rebel group claimed that dozens were killed in the blasts, contradicting earlier claims from officials that there had been no casualties and only "material damage".
Some reports said there had been several injuries and some people had been killed, but officials said there had been no casualties in the attacks, only "material damage". Witnesses said the main building of the compound had been set on fire, but state media reported only that fires had broken out near the military headquarters.
Diplomats living close to the area said these were the biggest explosions they had heard for months.Diplomats living close to the area said these were the biggest explosions they had heard for months.
'Superficial damage' Bursts of gunfire
The BBC's Rafid Jabboori, in Damascus, says the apparent target and timing are very significant. Correspondents say the apparent target and timing are very significant.
The staff command compound is the heart of the Syrian army, he says. The staff command compound represents the heart of the Syrian army and the attack comes days after the Free Syrian Army announced it had moved its command from Turkey to Syria in an apparent attempt to bolster its fight against regime forces.
And the attack comes days after the rebel Free Syrian Army announced it had moved its command inside Syria in an apparent attempt to bolster its fight against regime forces. Witnesses in the city heard bursts of small arms fire coming from the area around the military HQ.
Witnesses in the city heard bursts of small arms fire coming from the area around the military HQ, and reports said a gun battle was raging between rebels and army personnel. In other developments
  • Anti-regime group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says pro-government militiamen murdered 16 civilians in their Damascus homes in the early hours of Wednesday
  • Iranian news channel Press TV says one of its reporters, named as Maya Naser, was shot dead by snipers in Damascus

BBC's Lyce Doucet inside Syria

Damascus resident Jean-Pierre Duthion told the BBC that his entire building shook and windows were shattered by the force of the blasts.Damascus resident Jean-Pierre Duthion told the BBC that his entire building shook and windows were shattered by the force of the blasts.
"We all ran into the corridor, in the place without windows or anything, and we were just waiting until it stopped," he said."We all ran into the corridor, in the place without windows or anything, and we were just waiting until it stopped," he said.
Mr Zoabi sought to play down the attack, saying the explosions had caused only superficial damage.
State television described the blasts, close to one of the city's busiest areas at Umayyad Square, as a terrorist attack.State television described the blasts, close to one of the city's busiest areas at Umayyad Square, as a terrorist attack.
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class="syria-car-title">BBC's Lyce Doucet inside Syria

 		Roads leading to the area have been blocked off as the authorities deal with the aftermath.
Our correspondent says roads leading to the area have been blocked. Security measures were stepped up around the military compound after a rebel attack last year killed several senior security officials, including the defence minister and President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law.
He says security measures were stepped up around the military compound after a rebel attack last year killed several senior security officials, including the defence minister and President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law.
On Tuesday, anti-government rebels blew up a school building in Damascus that they said was being used for military training.On Tuesday, anti-government rebels blew up a school building in Damascus that they said was being used for military training.
For much of the past 18 months, rebel groups have been fighting against Mr Assad's regime.For much of the past 18 months, rebel groups have been fighting against Mr Assad's regime.
Thousands have died in the violence, which has erupted in cities across the country.Thousands have died in the violence, which has erupted in cities across the country.
Repeated efforts by the international community to find a diplomatic solution have foundered because of a deep divide at the UN Security Council.Repeated efforts by the international community to find a diplomatic solution have foundered because of a deep divide at the UN Security Council.
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