Twin Explosions Target Syrian Military Building

Posted September 26th, 2012 at 6:25 am (UTC-5)
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Syrian officials say a pair of explosions targeted a military building in central Damascus but did not wound any commanders.

The blasts happened minutes apart Wednesday, leaving part of the building in flames.

Information Minister Omran Zoubi said the explosions caused only “material damage” and blamed terrorists for the attack. A Syrian military statement said one of the explosions came from a car bomb.

Iran's Press TV said one of its correspondents was killed by sniper fire and the Damascus bureau chief for another state-run news organization was injured Wednesday as they reported on the bombings.

The explosions are the latest to hit the capital during the country's 18-month conflict, following a bombing Tuesday at a building occupied by pro-government militias. Rebels said they hoped that attack would kill top-level security officials.

Last month, bombings struck the state television headquarters in Damascus and near a hotel used by United Nations observers. A bomb attack in July killed Syria's sitting defense minister and three other top security officials.

World leaders speaking at the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday called for an end to the conflict in Syria.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the assembly the world must “stop the violence and flows of arms to both sides, and set in motion a Syrian-led transition as soon as possible.”

France called for U.N. protection of rebel-held areas to help end Syria's bloodshed and rights abuses.