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| A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrians carrying an injured man after a blast in Damascus, Syria, Feb. 21, 2013. (Xinhua/SANA) |
Photos: Big blast rattles central Damascus
DAMASCUS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of the suicide car blast that rocked a busy intersection in the capital Damascus earlier on Thursday has climbed to 35 people, the pro-government Sama TV quoted medical sources as saying.
Other 237 people were injured, some of them in grave condition, the TV added.
Earlier in the day, a suicide car bomber detonated himself at a crowded intersection grouping al-Eman Mosque and the Baath party headquarters at the outskirts of the central al-Mazraa district and adjacent to al-Thawra Street, the state media and witnesses said.
The state-TV aired live footage of the blast site, showing haunting images of horrible destruction and carnage. Charred, mingled bodies were also seen scattered on burnt concrete as firefighters and paramedics were feverishly trying to help the injured people.
After the blast, authorities arrested another suspect who was riding a car rigged with explosives in the same area.
The explosion was felt nearly two kilometers away, shattering glass in nearby buildings and ominous smoke plume above the city center. The blast was also followed with heavy gunfire as authorities cordoned off the area and closed main routes to central Damascus.
Blasts and mortar attacks have become increasingly common in Syria as the rebels, backed by al-Qaida fighters, scaled up their attacks to wobble the regime's grip on power.
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Damascus' suicide car bombing kills 16 people
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The blast rocked a crowded intersection grouping al-Eman Mosque and the Baath party headquarters at the outskirts of the central al-Mazraa district and adjacent to al-Thawra Street, the state- media and witnesses said. Full story
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Russia pushes for intra-Syria dialogue
MOSCOW, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Moscow on Wednesday called for the early launch of an intra-Syria dialogue between the government and the opposition as it saw promising signals to break the deadlock.
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Brahimi urges world to respond to Syrian opposition's bid for dialogue
CAIRO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations-Arab League (AL) joint envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi urged Sunday all sides of conflict in Syria, the Arab region and the international community to respond to the Syrian opposition leader's call for dialogue, official MENA news agency reported.
At a joint press conference with AL Secretary-General Nabil al- Arabi in Cairo, Brahimi said that the exiled Syrian Opposition Coalition leader Moaz al-Khatib's call for dialogue with the government of President Bashar al-Assad was "still open."Full story
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