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Syria conflict: Twin bomb blasts shake Damascus suburb Syria conflict: Twin bomb blasts shake Damascus suburb
(about 1 hour later)
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.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.
State television said "terrorists" were behind the blasts in Jaramana and broadcast pictures showing several charred vehicles and damaged buildings.State television said "terrorists" were behind the blasts in Jaramana and broadcast pictures showing several charred vehicles and damaged buildings.
The district is predominantly Druze and Christian, two communities which have so far not joined the uprising.The district is predominantly Druze and Christian, two communities which have so far not joined the uprising.
Earlier, there were clashes between security forces and rebels in Jaramana.Earlier, there were clashes between security forces and rebels in Jaramana.
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 eastern parts of the countryside around Damascus, known as the Ghouta.
Airbase 'seized' 'Suicide attacker'
The pro-government TV channel, Addounia, said the car bombs exploded in Jaramana shortly after 06:40 local time (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".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".
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.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.
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 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.
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.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.
The pro-government TV channel, Addounia, said the car bombs exploded in Jaramana shortly after 06:40 (04:40 GMT).
"Terrorists blew up two car bombs filled with a large amount of explosives in the main square," the official Sana news agency reported."Terrorists blew up two car bombs filled with a large amount of explosives in the main square," the official Sana news agency reported.
State television showed scenes of mangled vehicles and badly damaged buildings. State television quoted a source at the interior ministry as saying that 34 people had died and 83 had been seriously injured.
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, put the death toll at 38.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based activist group, earlier put the death toll at 29. "Activists and residents in the town said most of the victims were killed when a suicide attacker blew up his car, just after an explosive device was used to blow up another car," it said.
Two smaller bombs also exploded in Jaramana at around the same time, the state news agency said, adding that nobody was killed by them. Two smaller bombs also exploded in Jaramana at around the same time as the attack, Sana said, adding that nobody was killed by them.
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. No group has said it was behind the bombings, and there was no immediately obvious military or government target.
The population of Jaramana is predominantly Christian and Druze, a heterodox offshoot of Islam. "What do they want from Jaramana? The town brings together people from all over Syria and welcomes everybody," one resident told the AFP news agency.
Few members of Syria's religious minorities have supported the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. They are fearful for their future if the country's majority Sunni Muslim community chooses an Islamist leadership to replace decades of secular rule. The population of Jaramana is mainly Christian and Druze, a heterodox offshoot of Islam. It is also home to many Palestinian and Iraqi refugees.
Few members of Syria's minority groups have supported the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. They are fearful for their future if the country's majority Sunni Muslim community chooses an Islamist leadership to replace decades of secular rule.
Supporters of the government in Jaramana and other Damascus suburbs have set up armed vigilante groups - known as Popular Committees - to prevent attacks such as Wednesday's. On 29 October, 11 people were killed in a car bombing in Jaramana.Supporters of the government in Jaramana and other Damascus suburbs have set up armed vigilante groups - known as Popular Committees - to prevent attacks such as Wednesday's. On 29 October, 11 people were killed in a car bombing in Jaramana.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, fighter jets bombarded rebel positions in the western Damascus suburb of Darayya, the SOHR said. Elsewhere on Wednesday, witnesses told AFP that rebel fighters had captured the pilot of a warplane shot down over Darat Izza, in the northern province of Aleppo. One of the agency's reporters earlier saw a large explosion as the jet crashed near the town.
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. Fighter jets earlier bombarded rebel positions in the western Damascus suburb of Darayya, the SOHR said.
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 government army also reportedly shelled 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 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 Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), another activist network, reported that at least 50 people had been killed across the country on Wednesday, most of them in Jaramana.
Activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011.Activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011.
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