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Syria crisis: PM Halqi 'survives Damascus car bombing' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi has survived a car bomb attack in the capital, Damascus, reports say. | |
The blast in western Mazzeh district targeted Mr Halqi's convoy, state television said. There are reported to be a number of casualties. | |
UK-based activist group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Mr Halqi's bodyguard had been killed, AFP news agency reported. | |
It is unclear whether the blast was a suicide bombing or a planted device. | It is unclear whether the blast was a suicide bombing or a planted device. |
State television has carried a brief interview with Mr Halqi, saying that it was filmed after the attack. | |
He appears assured but somewhat shaken in the interview, in which he talks about a meeting he has just attended on the economy. | |
An unnamed Syrian official said the explosion was caused by a bomb placed underneath a parked car in the area, the Associated Press news agency reported. | An unnamed Syrian official said the explosion was caused by a bomb placed underneath a parked car in the area, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
An earlier report said it had been a suicide attack. | An earlier report said it had been a suicide attack. |
State television said the explosion happened at a busy intersection. Video from the scene showed burning debris and firefighters trying to put out a blaze. | |
A picture that activists said was of the site of the attack showed a large plume of black smoke rising into the air near a road and a high-rise building. | |
Activist groups said a bus and a car had been set on fire. | Activist groups said a bus and a car had been set on fire. |
Mazzeh is a government-controlled quarter housing a military airport which is vital to the regime's defences. | Mazzeh is a government-controlled quarter housing a military airport which is vital to the regime's defences. |
Syrian forces and rebels have been fighting around Damascus for months but with neither side gaining the upper hand. | |
The attack is the latest bombing inside government-controlled areas of the capital. | The attack is the latest bombing inside government-controlled areas of the capital. |
In December a suicide bombing struck the interior ministry. State media said top officials had escaped unhurt, but it later emerged that the interior minister himself had been badly injured. | In December a suicide bombing struck the interior ministry. State media said top officials had escaped unhurt, but it later emerged that the interior minister himself had been badly injured. |
So far there has been no claim of responsibility for Monday's attack. Similar bombings in the past have been linked to the jihadist al-Nusra Front, one of the most prominent rebel groups fighting the regime. | So far there has been no claim of responsibility for Monday's attack. Similar bombings in the past have been linked to the jihadist al-Nusra Front, one of the most prominent rebel groups fighting the regime. |
Mr Halqi, a senior member of the ruling Baath party, became prime minister last year after Riad Hijab defected to Jordan. He was previously health minister. |