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Explosion near airport in Damascus | Explosion near airport in Damascus |
(35 minutes later) | |
An explosion near the airport in Syria's capital, Damascus, has been followed by a blackout in parts of the city, state media say. | An explosion near the airport in Syria's capital, Damascus, has been followed by a blackout in parts of the city, state media say. |
Power was reportedly cut after rebel artillery hit a gas pipeline. | Power was reportedly cut after rebel artillery hit a gas pipeline. |
Syria's state news agency SANA quoted Electricity Minister Imad Khamis saying maintenance crews were working to restore supplies. | |
Parts of Syria have been struck by several major power cuts since the start of the country's civil war. | Parts of Syria have been struck by several major power cuts since the start of the country's civil war. |
"A terrorist attack on a gas pipeline that feeds a power station in the south has led to a power outage in the provinces, and work to repair it is in progress," Mr Khamis was quoted as saying. | |
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebel shelling was aimed at the town of Ghasula, around 2km from the airport. | |
President Bashar al-Assad calls the rebels foreign-backed "terrorists" and has often insisted that they are linked to al-Qaeda. |