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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
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| Syrian car bomb attack kills 17 | Syrian car bomb attack kills 17 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 17 people been killed and 14 hurt by a car bomb on the outskirts of Syria's capital, Damascus, reports say. | At least 17 people been killed and 14 hurt by a car bomb on the outskirts of Syria's capital, Damascus, reports say. |
| The target of the blast was unclear, but it struck close to an important Shia shrine and a security post. | The target of the blast was unclear, but it struck close to an important Shia shrine and a security post. |
| Such attacks are rare in Syria and the blast is being seen as the worst threat to national security in many years. | Such attacks are rare in Syria and the blast is being seen as the worst threat to national security in many years. |
| Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdul-Majid has described the explosion as a cowardly "terrorist act," but declined to say who he believed was responsible. | Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdul-Majid has described the explosion as a cowardly "terrorist act," but declined to say who he believed was responsible. |
| People in Damascus have been shocked by the rare attackSyria's Dunia television said a car packed with 200kg (440 lbs) of explosives was detonated near a security checkpoint on the road to the airport. | People in Damascus have been shocked by the rare attackSyria's Dunia television said a car packed with 200kg (440 lbs) of explosives was detonated near a security checkpoint on the road to the airport. |
| Security forces cordoned off the area, which is close to the al-Sayyida Zeinab shrine, one of Syria's holiest sites and a popular place of pilgrimage for Iraqi, Iranian and Lebanese Muslims. | Security forces cordoned off the area, which is close to the al-Sayyida Zeinab shrine, one of Syria's holiest sites and a popular place of pilgrimage for Iraqi, Iranian and Lebanese Muslims. |
| Mr Abdul-Majid said that a counter-terror unit was investigating the "cowardly act". | Mr Abdul-Majid said that a counter-terror unit was investigating the "cowardly act". |
| "At the moment, we cannot point to a particular party. However, the ongoing investigations will lead us to the perpetrators," he said. | "At the moment, we cannot point to a particular party. However, the ongoing investigations will lead us to the perpetrators," he said. |
| A spokesman from Syria's ministry of information told the BBC the number of casualties was expected to rise. | A spokesman from Syria's ministry of information told the BBC the number of casualties was expected to rise. |
| Smoke | Smoke |
| Witnesses told Reuters news agency that windows had been shattered on some industrial buildings about 100m (yards) away and the remains of a destroyed car were strewn across the road. | Witnesses told Reuters news agency that windows had been shattered on some industrial buildings about 100m (yards) away and the remains of a destroyed car were strewn across the road. |
| One witness told Syrian TV that the blast had sounded like an earthquake. | One witness told Syrian TV that the blast had sounded like an earthquake. |
| "My apartment collapsed, and five of my family members are injured and in the hospital," said the man, who did not give his name. | "My apartment collapsed, and five of my family members are injured and in the hospital," said the man, who did not give his name. |
| In pictures: Damascus car bomb | |
| Another witness said he saw a lot of smoke and that the windows of his truck had shattered. | Another witness said he saw a lot of smoke and that the windows of his truck had shattered. |
| Car bomb attacks are rare in Syria and the attack will be disturbing for the Syrian government, which prides itself on stability, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava in Beirut. | Car bomb attacks are rare in Syria and the attack will be disturbing for the Syrian government, which prides itself on stability, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava in Beirut. |
| Its critics say that stability comes at the price of democracy, says our correspondent. | Its critics say that stability comes at the price of democracy, says our correspondent. |
| This is believed to be the first such incident since a senior Hezbollah military commander, Imad Mughniyeh, was killed in a car bomb in February. | This is believed to be the first such incident since a senior Hezbollah military commander, Imad Mughniyeh, was killed in a car bomb in February. |
| Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blamed Israel for the blast, but Israel has denied any involvement. | Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blamed Israel for the blast, but Israel has denied any involvement. |
| In August, a senior military official close to President Bashar Assad was shot dead at a beach resort near the port city of Tartus. | In August, a senior military official close to President Bashar Assad was shot dead at a beach resort near the port city of Tartus. |
| Brig Gen Mohammed Suleiman had responsibility for sensitive security issues and was described as Syria's "main interlocutor" in a UN inquiry into alleged Syrian nuclear activity. | Brig Gen Mohammed Suleiman had responsibility for sensitive security issues and was described as Syria's "main interlocutor" in a UN inquiry into alleged Syrian nuclear activity. |
| On Friday, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, said Mr Suleiman's death would delay the inquiry. | On Friday, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, said Mr Suleiman's death would delay the inquiry. |
| Peace talks | Peace talks |
| Syria has faced diplomatic isolation since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. | |
| Syria's critics have blamed it for the murder but Damascus strongly denies any involvement. | Syria's critics have blamed it for the murder but Damascus strongly denies any involvement. |
| The blast shattered windows of nearby vehicles and buildings | |
| But BBC Middle East analyst Andrew Bolton says the attack has happened at a time when Syria is at something of a political crossroads. | But BBC Middle East analyst Andrew Bolton says the attack has happened at a time when Syria is at something of a political crossroads. |
| Earlier this month, Syria took part in talks with Turkey, Qatar and France, which currently holds the EU presidency, in a bid to boost efforts towards peace in the Middle East. | Earlier this month, Syria took part in talks with Turkey, Qatar and France, which currently holds the EU presidency, in a bid to boost efforts towards peace in the Middle East. |
| Mr Assad said he hoped the summit would form a basis for direct peace talks with Israel. | Mr Assad said he hoped the summit would form a basis for direct peace talks with Israel. |
| Syria has remained in a state of war with Israel since the latter's foundation in 1948. | Syria has remained in a state of war with Israel since the latter's foundation in 1948. |
| Despite the new-found willingness to talk, there are still tensions between the Syrians and Israelis, says our analyst. | Despite the new-found willingness to talk, there are still tensions between the Syrians and Israelis, says our analyst. |
| Divisive issues include Syrian support for groups like the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, and the Lebanese movement, Hezbollah. | Divisive issues include Syrian support for groups like the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, and the Lebanese movement, Hezbollah. |
| Are you in Damascus? Have you been affected by the explosion, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. | Are you in Damascus? Have you been affected by the explosion, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. |