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Syria conflict: Damascus mortar attack kills 12 Syria conflict: Dozens die in explosions in Homs
(about 3 hours later)
Twelve people have been killed and dozens more wounded in a mortar attack on a technical institute in central Damascus, Syrian state media say. At least 37 people have been killed in explosions in the Syrian city of Homs, officials say.
Four mortar shells struck the mainly Shia Shaghour neighbourhood of the city, police told the Sana news agency. The attacks, which involved at least one car bomb, also injured dozens.
Two of the shells hit the Badr al-Din al-Hussein technical institute. Earlier, at least 14 people were killed and more than 80 wounded in a mortar attack on a technical institute in central Damascus.
The attack comes a day after President Bashar al-Assad registered to stand for re-election defying calls to step down as a way of ending Syria's civil war. The attacks come a day after President Bashar al-Assad registered to stand for re-election, defying calls to step down as a way of ending Syria's civil war.
There are conflicting details about the number of deaths in the government-held, predominantly Alawite neighbourhood of Zahra, located to the east of the Old City in Homs.
A Syrian government official said at least 37 people were killed and 85 hurt.
Agence France-Presse news agency quoted a governor as saying 45 had died, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 17, with 80 injured.
Homs has been a key battleground between government forces and rebels, with large parts of the city in ruins.
Technical institute
The Damascus attack involved four shells which struck the mainly Shia Shaghour neighbourhood, police say.
Two hit the Badr al-Din al-Hussein technical institute, where most of the casualties come from.
The president's forces have pushed back rebels from many of their strongholds around the capital, but residents say they have responded by increasing the number of rocket and mortar attacks in the centre of the city.The president's forces have pushed back rebels from many of their strongholds around the capital, but residents say they have responded by increasing the number of rocket and mortar attacks in the centre of the city.
"Twelve citizens were killed and 50 others wounded by terrorists who targeted the Shaghour neighbourhood," Sana reported. The Syrian government blamed the Damascus attack on "terrorists" - a word it uses to describe all those seeking to depose President Assad's government.
The word "terrorists" is used by the Syrian authorities to describe all those seeking to depose President Assad's government. The attacks came shortly after the Human Rights Watch (HRW) pressure group accused the Syrian military of indiscriminately using barrel bombs in the northern city of Aleppo despite UN security council calls for them to stop.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has also reported the mortar attack, saying that the number of fatalities is expected to rise. HRW says that such bombs are inaccurate and cause massive damage and casualties. It says that at least 85 barrel bombs have been dropped on Aleppo alone since a UN Security Council resolution in late February demanded an end to the practice.
It says that the Badr al-Din al-Hussein technical institute is an Islamic law studies centre, with students as young as 14. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that the Badr al-Din al-Hussein technical institute is an Islamic law studies centre, with students as young as 14.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says that random mortar attacks on Damascus are fairly common, but militarily meaningless, since rebel forces occupying some of the suburbs are under pressure and are not in a position to mount a serious ground assault.
More than 150,000 people are believed to have been killed in the three-year civil war.More than 150,000 people are believed to have been killed in the three-year civil war.
Millions of people have fled their homes as fighting shows no sign of easing. The UN says that almost 3.5 million civilians are being denied vital aid, including medicine and medical care.Millions of people have fled their homes as fighting shows no sign of easing. The UN says that almost 3.5 million civilians are being denied vital aid, including medicine and medical care.
A group of prominent lawyers and academics has urged the UN in an open letter to deliver aid into Syria with or without the government's consent.
The letter, signed by 35 legal experts, says permission for aid is being arbitrarily withheld.
A UN resolution adopted in February called for all sides in the conflict to allow unrestricted humanitarian access.
Since March 2011, Syria has descended into civil war as rebel brigades - including Islamists and jihadists linked to al-Qaeda - battle with government forces and among themselves.Since March 2011, Syria has descended into civil war as rebel brigades - including Islamists and jihadists linked to al-Qaeda - battle with government forces and among themselves.