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| Damascus bombers attack Syria military HQ | Damascus bombers attack Syria military HQ |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rebels have targeted Syria's army headquarters with two large bomb blasts in the centre of Damascus. | Rebels have targeted Syria's army headquarters with two large bomb blasts in the centre of Damascus. |
| Military officials said one of the bombs had caused damage to the main building of the General Staff. | Military officials said one of the bombs had caused damage to the main building of the General Staff. |
| The rebel Free Syrian Army said it had carried out the attack and claimed dozens had been killed. The army said no personnel had died. | |
| Gunfire reverberated around the city for hours after the bombings, as rebels fought with soldiers at the compound. | Gunfire reverberated around the city for hours after the bombings, as rebels fought with soldiers at the compound. |
| Syrian state TV quoted a military source saying no senior personnel were harmed by the explosions, but some of the building's guards were wounded. | Syrian state TV quoted a military source saying no senior personnel were harmed by the explosions, but some of the building's guards were wounded. |
| It said "terrorist attackers" had opened fire inside the perimeter of the compound and in nearby streets, and security forces had confronted them. | It said "terrorist attackers" had opened fire inside the perimeter of the compound and in nearby streets, and security forces had confronted them. |
| 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. |
| Diplomats living close to the area said the blasts were the biggest they had heard for months. | Diplomats living close to the area said the blasts were the biggest they had heard for months. |
| Buildings more than 1km (half a mile) away shook violently under the force of the explosions. | Buildings more than 1km (half a mile) away shook violently under the force of the explosions. |
| Shattered windows | Shattered windows |
| The BBC's Rafid Jabboori in Damascus says the apparent target and timing are very significant. | The BBC's Rafid Jabboori in Damascus says the apparent target and timing are very significant. |
| The staff command compound represents the heart of the Syrian army, he says. | The staff command compound represents the heart of the Syrian army, he says. |
| 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 Free Syrian Army announced it had moved its command from Turkey to Syria in an apparent attempt to bolster its fight against regime forces. |
| 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. |
| Roads leading to the area were blocked off as the authorities dealt with the aftermath. | Roads leading to the area were blocked off as the authorities dealt with the aftermath. |
| Damascus resident Jean-Pierre Duthion told the BBC that his entire building shook and windows were shattered. | Damascus resident Jean-Pierre Duthion told the BBC that his entire building shook and windows were shattered. |
| "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. |
| In other developments | In other developments |
By Lyse Doucet inside Syria |
By Lyse Doucet inside Syria |
| Security measures were stepped up around the military compound after a rebel attack in July killed several senior security officials, including the defence minister and President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law. | Security measures were stepped up around the military compound after a rebel attack in July killed several senior security officials, including the defence minister and President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law. |
| On Tuesday, rebels blew up a school building in Damascus that they said was being used for military training. | On Tuesday, 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. |
| Activists estimate more than 27,000 people have died in the violence, which has erupted in cities across the country. | Activists estimate more than 27,000 people 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. |
| Are you in the area? Send us your accounts using the form below. | Are you in the area? Send us your accounts using the form below. |