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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
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| Syria 'foils' US embassy attack | Syria 'foils' US embassy attack |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A bomb attack on the US embassy in Damascus has been foiled by local security forces, Syrian officials say. | A bomb attack on the US embassy in Damascus has been foiled by local security forces, Syrian officials say. |
| Attackers tried to drive two cars at the embassy compound but three men were killed by guards and a fourth was captured, the interior minister said. | Attackers tried to drive two cars at the embassy compound but three men were killed by guards and a fourth was captured, the interior minister said. |
| One car bomb went off but a second failed, he told Syrian state TV, adding that it was being examined for clues. | One car bomb went off but a second failed, he told Syrian state TV, adding that it was being examined for clues. |
| A member of Syria's security forces was also killed but there are no reports of US casualties. | |
| Security forces have sealed off the Rawda area, which also houses other embassies and security installations. | |
| Damascus has seen sporadic unrest in recent years, including a reported attempt to bomb the Canadian embassy. | |
| There is currently no US ambassador to Damascus and very limited contact between the governments. | There is currently no US ambassador to Damascus and very limited contact between the governments. |
| 'Religious slogans' | 'Religious slogans' |
| "Three terrorists were killed and one was wounded," the Interior Minister, Gen Bassam Abdel Majid, said. | "Three terrorists were killed and one was wounded," the Interior Minister, Gen Bassam Abdel Majid, said. |
| AREA OF EMBASSY ATTACK In pictures: Embassy clash | |
| It was, in his words, a "terrorist operation targeting the US embassy" and involving home-made bombs and automatic weapons. | It was, in his words, a "terrorist operation targeting the US embassy" and involving home-made bombs and automatic weapons. |
| "One [attacker] was captured, injured, and the investigation may reveal where they came from or their backgrounds," the minister added. | "One [attacker] was captured, injured, and the investigation may reveal where they came from or their backgrounds," the minister added. |
| Ayman Abdel-Nour, a Syrian political commentator who was in the area, said the attackers had run "toward the compound shouting religious slogans while firing their automatic rifles". | Ayman Abdel-Nour, a Syrian political commentator who was in the area, said the attackers had run "toward the compound shouting religious slogans while firing their automatic rifles". |
| Grenades were reportedly thrown at the embassy's wall, said by the Associated Press news agency to be about 2.5m (8ft) high. | |
| Witnesses said that after an initial exchange of fire, two of the attackers sought refuge in a nearby building but were pursued and gunned down by security forces. | |
| According to the Syrian state news agency, 14 people were injured including two members of the security forces and a local employee at the embassy. | |
| TV footage from the scene showed pools of blood on the pavement and what appeared to be improvised explosive devices using pipes and gas canisters. | TV footage from the scene showed pools of blood on the pavement and what appeared to be improvised explosive devices using pipes and gas canisters. |
| A Chinese diplomat was treated in hospital for minor injuries caused by a stray bullet, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. | A Chinese diplomat was treated in hospital for minor injuries caused by a stray bullet, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. |
| He had been standing on the roof of the Chinese embassy, which is situated close to the US compound. | He had been standing on the roof of the Chinese embassy, which is situated close to the US compound. |
| Heightened tension | Heightened tension |
| Syria is an authoritarian state where the security forces exert tight control on the population and the media. | Syria is an authoritarian state where the security forces exert tight control on the population and the media. |
| A BBC correspondent in the region says the reported attack comes at a time of heightened tensions between the Washington and Damascus, with bitterness in Syria over US support for Israeli military action in Lebanon. | A BBC correspondent in the region says the reported attack comes at a time of heightened tensions between the Washington and Damascus, with bitterness in Syria over US support for Israeli military action in Lebanon. |
| The US accuses Syria of supporting the insurgency in Iraq and not doing enough to prevent weapons going to Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. | The US accuses Syria of supporting the insurgency in Iraq and not doing enough to prevent weapons going to Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. |
| In June, four people died when Syrian security forces said they had foiled an attack by Islamist militants near the state-run television studios. | In June, four people died when Syrian security forces said they had foiled an attack by Islamist militants near the state-run television studios. |
| In April 2004, four people were killed in a clash between Syrian police and a team of suspected bombers in the diplomatic quarter of Damascus. | In April 2004, four people were killed in a clash between Syrian police and a team of suspected bombers in the diplomatic quarter of Damascus. |
| The authorities accused Islamist militants of trying to blow up an explosives-laden car near the Canadian embassy. | The authorities accused Islamist militants of trying to blow up an explosives-laden car near the Canadian embassy. |
Are you in Damascus? Have you witnessed anything? If so, send us your story. | Are you in Damascus? Have you witnessed anything? If so, send us your story. |
| I live in Rouda (the area in which the Embassy is situated) and from the roof of my apartment saw the explosion and heard the gunfire attack. Soon after Syrian police and helicopters surrounded the area.Nushin Alloo, Damascus, Syria | I live in Rouda (the area in which the Embassy is situated) and from the roof of my apartment saw the explosion and heard the gunfire attack. Soon after Syrian police and helicopters surrounded the area.Nushin Alloo, Damascus, Syria |
| I live about half a mile from the embassy and heard gunshots coming from that direction as I was leaving my apartment on my way to work. I thought they were firecrackers. As I got closer to Rawda I saw white smoke slowly rising from the street in front of the US embassy. Later, I saw more smoke closer to the building but it was black. There were men with machine guns who were not wearing uniforms of any kind surrounding the fountain in the square and hiding behind trucks while shooting in the direction of the embassy. It sounded as if someone were shooting back at them. I couldn't tell if it was the Marines who guard the embassy shooting at them or someone else. I waited around with a crowd of locals (I'm American) watching the scene unfold but things started to get a little hairy so I left about half an hour ago. There were a number of fire trucks and ambulances around, but they weren't doing anything except waiting and watching. Like the rest of us. There was too much gunfire to get close enough to the scene to tell if there was anyone injured or for the emergency workers get close enough to do anything about it. The police were pushing the crowd back as a Red Crescent vehicle arrived and I decided to leave a few seconds later when a busload of uniformed Syrian soldiers arrived. I couldn't tell if they were armed, I just got out of there. Greg , damascus, syria | I live about half a mile from the embassy and heard gunshots coming from that direction as I was leaving my apartment on my way to work. I thought they were firecrackers. As I got closer to Rawda I saw white smoke slowly rising from the street in front of the US embassy. Later, I saw more smoke closer to the building but it was black. There were men with machine guns who were not wearing uniforms of any kind surrounding the fountain in the square and hiding behind trucks while shooting in the direction of the embassy. It sounded as if someone were shooting back at them. I couldn't tell if it was the Marines who guard the embassy shooting at them or someone else. I waited around with a crowd of locals (I'm American) watching the scene unfold but things started to get a little hairy so I left about half an hour ago. There were a number of fire trucks and ambulances around, but they weren't doing anything except waiting and watching. Like the rest of us. There was too much gunfire to get close enough to the scene to tell if there was anyone injured or for the emergency workers get close enough to do anything about it. The police were pushing the crowd back as a Red Crescent vehicle arrived and I decided to leave a few seconds later when a busload of uniformed Syrian soldiers arrived. I couldn't tell if they were armed, I just got out of there. Greg , damascus, syria |