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Syria crisis: PM Halqi survives Damascus car bombing | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi has survived a car bomb attack in the capital, Damascus, state media say. | Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi has survived a car bomb attack in the capital, Damascus, state media say. |
The blast in the capital's western Mazzeh district targeted Mr Halqi's convoy, state TV said, causing a number of casualties. | |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, said one of Mr Halqi's bodyguards was among several others killed. | |
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 carried a brief interview with Mr Halqi, saying that it was filmed after the attack. | State television 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. | He appears assured but somewhat shaken in the interview, in which he talks about a meeting he has just attended on the economy. |
State TV said the blast happened at a busy intersection, near a public garden and a school. The upmarket neighbourhood is home to government buildings, the residences of several political figures and a military airport vital to the regime's defences. | State TV said the blast happened at a busy intersection, near a public garden and a school. The upmarket neighbourhood is home to government buildings, the residences of several political figures and a military airport vital to the regime's defences. |
"I was walking in the street when suddenly there was a very powerful explosion and I saw a car burning and people running," a witness told AFP. | "I was walking in the street when suddenly there was a very powerful explosion and I saw a car burning and people running," a witness told AFP. |
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. |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted medical sources as saying five civilians in the area were also killed. | |
The activist group quoted medical sources as saying Mr Halqi's driver and another bodyguard were seriously injured. | |
Footage from the scene showed the charred remains of several vehicles, and a badly damaged bus. Debris and glass were strewn around a wide area, where onlookers had gathered. | Footage from the scene showed the charred remains of several vehicles, and a badly damaged bus. Debris and glass were strewn around a wide area, where onlookers had gathered. |
A picture that activists said was of the site just after the attack showed a large plume of black smoke rising into the air near a road and a high-rise building. | A picture that activists said was of the site just after the attack showed a large plume of black smoke rising into the air near a road and a high-rise building. |
Syrian forces and rebels have been fighting around Damascus for months but with neither side gaining the upper hand. | 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. | 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. |
More than 70,000 people have been killed since fighting between Syrian forces and rebels erupted in March 2011. | More than 70,000 people have been killed since fighting between Syrian forces and rebels erupted in March 2011. |