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Twin bomb blasts shake Damascus suburb Syria conflict: Twin bomb blasts shake Damascus suburb
(about 1 hour later)
At least 29 people have been killed and many injured by two car bomb explosions in a south-eastern district of Syria's capital, Damascus, activists say. At least 34 people have been killed and many injured by two car bomb explosions in a south-eastern district of Syria's capital, Damascus, state media report.
The Sana news agency said "terrorists" were behind the blasts in Jaramana.The Sana news agency said "terrorists" were behind the blasts in Jaramana.
Television pictures showed firemen hosing down the charred wrecks of two vehicles. Several buildings also appeared to have been damaged.Television pictures showed firemen hosing down the charred wrecks of two vehicles. Several buildings also appeared to have been damaged.
A BBC reporter in Jaramana says there were clashes between government forces and rebels there earlier on Wednesday.A BBC reporter in Jaramana says there were clashes between government forces and rebels there earlier on Wednesday.
There has been fierce fighting in recent days in the countryside around Damascus, known as the Ghouta, particularly in eastern areas.There has been fierce fighting in recent days in the countryside around Damascus, known as the Ghouta, particularly in eastern areas.
Airbase 'seized'Airbase 'seized'
The pro-government TV channel, Addounia, said the explosions occurred shortly after 06:40 (04:40 GMT). The car bombs exploded in an area which is predominantly Druze and Christian - two minorities which President Bashar al-Assad's government says it is protecting from "terrorist extremists".
"Terrorists blew up two car bombs filled with a large amount of explosives in the main square of the town," the official Sana news agency reported. These are not the first attacks in Jaramana to have been blamed on those seeking to overthrow the government. But in the past, the armed opposition has denied any involvement and repeatedly said it is targeting Mr Assad's forces and not minority groups. Areas like Jaramana are heavily guarded by pro-government militia known as Popular Committees.
Several residents were killed and wounded, and homes and shops were damaged, it added. The conflict in Syria is rapidly taking on a sectarian dimension. Earlier this month, similar attacks took place in pro-government Alawite districts like Mezzeh 86 and Woroud.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based activist group, said 29 people had died and dozens had been injured. Addounia also quoted a reporter at the scene as saying the death toll was 20. Meanwhile, government forces continue to bombard rebel-held areas in Damascus and elsewhere in the country that are predominantly Sunni. The opposition says the decisive battle to overthrow Mr Assad will be in Damascus. The city has become heavily fortified, with security forces personnel and checkpoints all over. Many people here feel the tension of further escalation yet to hit the capital.
Two smaller bombs also exploded in Jaramana at around the same time, Sana said, adding that nobody was killed by the blasts. The pro-government TV channel, Addounia, said the car bombs exploded in Jaramana shortly after 06:40 (04:40 GMT).
Jaramana is a predominantly Druze and Christian district, where supporters of the government have reportedly set up armed groups to repel rebel attacks. "Terrorists blew up two car bombs filled with a large amount of explosives in the main square," the official Sana news agency reported.
On 29 October, 11 people were killed in a car bombing in Jaramana. State television showed scenes of mangled vehicles and badly damaged buildings.
The Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), an opposition activist network, said 48 people were killed in the capital and its suburbs on Tuesday. It put the nationwide death toll at 131, including 12 children. It quoted a source at the interior ministry as saying 34 people had died and 83 seriously had been injured. Ten bags containing the remains of unidentified victims were also collected.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based activist group, earlier put the death toll at 29.
Two smaller bombs also exploded in Jaramana at around the same time, the state news agency said, adding that nobody was killed by the blasts.
No group has said it was behind the bombings, and there was no immediately obvious military or government target, reports the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut.
Jaramana is a predominantly Druze and Christian district, where supporters of the government set up armed groups - known as Popular Committees - following several similar attacks. On 29 October, 11 people were killed in a car bombing.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, fighter jets bombarded rebel positions in the western Damascus suburb of Darayya, the SOHR said.
The army also reportedly shelled the Zabadani, a town in the mountains north-west of the capital. The Syrian Revolution General Commission, an opposition activist network, said more than 50 shells had fallen on the town in 30 minutes, injuring several people.
The Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), another activist network, said 48 people were killed in the capital and its suburbs on Tuesday. It put the nationwide death toll at 131.
The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) overran an air force base in the Sayyida Zainab area, to the south of Damascus, and fought off several attempts by security forces to storm several suburbs, the LCC added.The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) overran an air force base in the Sayyida Zainab area, to the south of Damascus, and fought off several attempts by security forces to storm several suburbs, the LCC added.
Activists estimate that more than 40,000 people have died since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.Activists estimate that more than 40,000 people have died since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.
Are you in Damascus, or do you have relatives there? You can send us your experiences using the form below.Are you in Damascus, or do you have relatives there? You can send us your experiences using the form below.
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