Twin blasts kill 59 in Syria

Damascus: Two powerful blasts struck Damascus Thursday, killing 59 people, wounding nearly 372 and prompting the UN observer chief to appeal for help to end the bloodshed ravaging Syria.

The bombers used more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of explosives in their vehicles, the ministry said, cited by state television.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said the toll was 59, and included civilians and regime forces.

?The toll has risen to 59 killed and hundreds of injured,? the Britain-based monitor said.

Previously, state media said the blasts killed 40 people and injured nearly 200.

Gruesome footage of the aftermath of the explosions, which rocked Qazzaz district during the morning rush hour, was aired on state television, which blamed the near simultaneous attacks on ?terrorists.?

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombings targeted an intelligence base making them the ?most violent? attacks in the country?s 14-month uprising.

Both civilians and security forces members were among the casualties, the Britain-based watchdog said, adding at least one of the blasts was caused by a car bomb.

?Two explosions caused by terrorists took place on the freeway in the south of Damascus,? state television said, adding the blasts occurred ?as people were heading to work and children to school.?

It provided a toll of 40 dead and 170 wounded, while saying that, in addition, rescue workers ?filled eight bags with human remains.?

The opposition Syrian National Council accused President Bashar al-Assad?s regime of being behind the bombings.

?The regime is behind this,? the exile group?s Samir Nashar said, adding the aim was to warn UN observers they were in danger and to impress upon the international community that the regime was battling ?terrorists.?

?This is the only way for the regime to claim that what is happening in Syria is the work of terrorist gangs and that al-Qaeda is expanding its presence in Syria,? said Nashar.

The blasts took place near a nine-storey security building, the facade of which was destroyed along with several surrounding residential complexes, an AFP correspondent reported.

Television showed images of a woman?s charred hand on a steering wheel, her gold bracelets dangling from her wrist.

Other burnt and mangled bodies lay in the street amid the carcasses of smouldering vehicles.

?AFP

Source: daily-sun.com

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