Syrian PM survives car bomb attack in Damascus
The Syrian Prime Minister, Wael al-Halki, has survived a bomb attack targeting his convoy in central Damascus today, according to local media reports.
Syrian state media and Hezbollah’s al-Manar television have reported a terrorist explosion in al-Mezze targeting the convoy of the prime minister.
“Doctor Wael al-Halqi is well and not hurt at all,” state television reported.
Previous reports claimed a “terrorist explosion” in the Mezze district, where government and military institutions are located and where senior Syrian officials live, had caused casualties.
Syrian opposition activists uploaded a picture showing thick black smoke coming from what they claim is the site of the explosion.
The Britain-based Syria Observatory for Human Rights said initial reports suggest one person accompanying the prime minister was killed.
Over 70,000 people have died during Syria’s two-year-old civil war, with White House last week claiming the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad may have used chemical weapons on a small scale, a charge Syria denies.
The US fears anti-Assad Islamist rebels affiliated to al Qaeda could seize chemical weapons, Washington has discussed the possibility of sending tens of thousands of ground troops into Syria if Assad’s government falls.