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Syria conflict: Damascus hit by deadly blast Syria conflict: Damascus hit by deadly blast
(35 minutes later)
At least seven people have been killed by a blast in the centre of the Syrian capital Damascus, official media and opposition-linked activists say. At least seven people have been killed by a blast in the centre of the Syrian capital Damascus.
State media said 50 people were also injured by the explosion in front of the central railway office, while an activist group said 20 were hurt. The Sana state news agency put the number of dead at eight, and said 50 were injured by the blast in Hijaz square. An activist group said 20 people were hurt.
Sana news agency blamed "terrorists" for the bomb - its term for rebels. No group has said it was behind the blast but Sana blamed it on "terrorists" - its term for rebels.
Rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad have often attacked the city with bombs or mortars. Syrian rebels have often attacked Damascus with bombs or mortars.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, said there were conflicting reports about whether a bomb or a mortar shell had caused the blast.
The explosion comes a day after the latest round of international diplomacy failed to fix a date for a long-delayed peace conference on the Syrian conflict.
Last month, an explosion near Damascus airport cut off power to large parts of Syria.Last month, an explosion near Damascus airport cut off power to large parts of Syria.
Sana said Wednesday's attack had hit the offices of the railway company.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, said there were conflicting reports about whether it had been caused by a bomb or a mortar shell.
Aid needs rising
The explosion comes a day after the latest round of international diplomacy failed to fix a date for a long-delayed peace conference on the Syrian conflict.
The UN-Arab League envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, had hoped to hold the conference in Geneva this month.
But he said that after a day of meetings with senior diplomats he was not able to announce a date.
Mr Brahimi said he was still "striving" for a summit by the end of the year.
Attempts to set up a conference have been going on for months amid disputes over who should attend and its agenda.
Meanwhile, aid agencies have warned that more than nine million Syrians, almost half the population, are now in need of humanitarian relief.
The UN estimates that more than two million people have fled Syria since the unrest began in March 2011 resulting in a humanitarian crisis.
Most have sought refuge in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.
More than 100,000 people are estimated to have been killed since the conflict began.