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Syria crisis: Mosque bomb kills pro-government cleric Syria mosque blast: Pro-Assad cleric among dozens dead
(about 2 hours later)
A leading Syrian pro-government Sunni cleric has been been killed in a blast at a mosque in the centre of the capital, Damascus, say state media. One of the most prominent Sunni supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has been killed in a blast at a mosque in the capital, Damascus.
The Sana news agency said Mohammed al-Buti had been "martyred in a terrorist explosion" at the Iman mosque. At least 41 other people were killed alongside Sheikh Mohammed al-Buti at the Iman mosque, said the Sana news agency, calling it "a terrorist" blast.
At least 14 people died in the blast - and more than 40 others were wounded, state TV said. State TV broadcast footage of bodies and injured people at the scene.
The cleric, in his eighties, was a long-time supporter of President Bashar al-Assad and often appeared on TV. The Free Syrian Army, the umbrella group for the rebel forces, said it was not responsible for the attack.
State media said the blast, in the Mazraa district of the capital, was a "terrorist suicide attack". State media said the blast, in the Mazraa district of the capital, was carried out by a suicide bomber who had slipped inside the mosque.
It broadcast footage of bodies and wounded people at the scene. Mr Buti, 84, was killed as he was delivering religious lessons at the mosque, it said. His grandson was also reportedly killed.
The pro-opposition Syria Observatory for Human Rights said at least 15 civilians had been killed and dozens wounded. "We suddenly heard the explosion. We ran inside the mosque and we found the people torn into pieces," one witness said.
The opposition activist Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC) put the number of dead at 20. It said the area had been "under the full control of the regime forces" at the time. The pro-opposition Syria Observatory for Human Rights earlier said at least 15 civilians had been killed and dozens wounded.
Reuters news agency quoted local residents as saying the blast may have been caused by a mortar round which landed nearby. The opposition activist Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC) initially put the number of dead at 20. It said the area had been "under the full control of the regime forces" at the time.
Dr al-Buti was a Sunni Muslim - the majority sect in Syria who have led the uprising against Alawite Mr Assad - but had been a vocal supporter of the president. Psychological blow
He regularly preached on Syrian TV and had been fiercely critical of opponents of Mr Assad. Mr Buti was a Sunni Muslim - the majority sect in Syria, who have led the uprising against Alawite Mr Assad - but had been a vocal supporter of the president.
The BBC's Arab Affairs editor Sebastian Usher says Dr al-Buti had become a hate figure for those within his own Sunni community, and that his death will be major blow to the Assad government. He regularly preached on Syrian TV, and had urged Syrians to support the army against the rebels.
The loss will be a huge psychological blow to the Assad government, says the BBC's Jim Muir, reporting from Beirut.
Mr Buti was a regime loyalist to the core, he adds, having led the prayers at the funeral of President Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad, in 2000.
After the cleric's death was announced, state television replaced its programming with chants of verses from the Koran.
The president of the Syrian Opposition Council, Ahmed Moaz Al-Khati, said the opposition "categorically condemn the assassination".
"This is a crime by any measure that is completely rejected," he told the AFP news agency from Cairo.
The attack came hours after the UN said it would investigate allegations that chemical weapons had been used in Syria earlier this week.The attack came hours after the UN said it would investigate allegations that chemical weapons had been used in Syria earlier this week.
The Syrian government and opposition forces have both blamed each other for an attack in the Khan al-Assal area of Aleppo province. They both called for an inquiry.The Syrian government and opposition forces have both blamed each other for an attack in the Khan al-Assal area of Aleppo province. They both called for an inquiry.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that he was working to establish the investigation with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) which oversees the chemical weapons convention, and the World Health Organization (WHO).UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that he was working to establish the investigation with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) which oversees the chemical weapons convention, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
"My announcement should serve as an unequivocal reminder that the use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity," said Mr Ban."My announcement should serve as an unequivocal reminder that the use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity," said Mr Ban.
"The international community needs full assurance that chemical weapons stockpiles are verifiably safeguarded.""The international community needs full assurance that chemical weapons stockpiles are verifiably safeguarded."
US President Barack Obama has repeatedly said the use of chemical weapons would be a "red line".US President Barack Obama has repeatedly said the use of chemical weapons would be a "red line".