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Syria: Blast near Damascus airport triggers blackouts | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Large parts of Syria have been hit by a power cut following an explosion near the airport in the capital, Damascus. | |
The lights went out after rebel artillery reportedly hit a gas pipeline that supplies a power station. | |
Residents say the entire capital has been plunged into darkness and officials said the power cuts had been nationwide. | |
Many parts of Syria have suffered sporadic 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," Syria's state news agency Sana quoted Electricity Minister Imad Khamis as saying. | |
He said it could take up to 48 hours to restore supplies. | |
President Bashar al-Assad has frequently referred to his opponents as foreign-backed "terrorists". | |
UK-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said rebel shelling had been aimed at the town of Ghasula, around 2km (1.2 miles) from the airport. | |
"It is likely this was a large-scale operation planned well in advance," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. | "It is likely this was a large-scale operation planned well in advance," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. |
Activists say a huge fire was seen blazing near the airport. It is unclear whether anyone was hurt. | Activists say a huge fire was seen blazing near the airport. It is unclear whether anyone was hurt. |
Meanwhile the SOHR says a car bomb has hit a military checkpoint in a western suburb of Damascus, causing multiple casualties among security forces. | Meanwhile the SOHR says a car bomb has hit a military checkpoint in a western suburb of Damascus, causing multiple casualties among security forces. |
Damascus 'co-operating' | Damascus 'co-operating' |
In another development, the body tasked with destroying Syria's chemical arsenal has said that Damascus is due to hand over its disarmament plan on Thursday. | |
In a press conference on Wednesday, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said it expected Syria's initial declaration within the next 24 hours. | In a press conference on Wednesday, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said it expected Syria's initial declaration within the next 24 hours. |
The OPCW and the UN have had a team of 60 experts and support staff in Syria since 1 October. | The OPCW and the UN have had a team of 60 experts and support staff in Syria since 1 October. |
They have said that the Syrian government has been co-operating with the watchdog's work. | They have said that the Syrian government has been co-operating with the watchdog's work. |
The OPCW's mission to rid Syria of chemical weapons was set up by a UN resolution. | The OPCW's mission to rid Syria of chemical weapons was set up by a UN resolution. |
It followed international outrage at a chemical weapons attack near Damascus in August. | It followed international outrage at a chemical weapons attack near Damascus in August. |