Car bomb hits Syria's second city

The regime is blaming "terrorist elements" for the bomb attacks: yesterday in Damascus and today in Aleppo. Credit: Khaled Al Hariri / Reuters

A car bomb has exploded in Syria's second city of Aleppo today, a day after blasts killed 28 in Damascus.

A rare anti-government protest in the capital of Damascus yesterday was met with military force. Activists say security forces broke up the march of more than 200 people when protesters began shouting "the people want to topple the regime."

There was heavy fighting reported in the suburbs of the capital last night.

The British-based opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least three people had been killed and 25 wounded today by the explosion close to a state security office in Aleppo.

State TV said the "terrorist attack" had been between two residential buildings in the al-Suleimaniya district.

Activists and the government traded blame for the explosion, as they have over previous bombings.

Today's bomb is the latest in a spate of bomb attacks to target civilians.

  • December 23rd: twin car bombs in Damascus killed 44 and injured 150 people.

  • January 6th: a car bomb in Damascus killed 26 people.

  • February 10th: twin car bombs in Aleppo killed 28 and injured 235 people.

  • March 3rd: suicide bomber in Deraa killed 2 and injured 20 people.

  • March 17th: twin suicide bombs in Damascus kill 28, injure 140

In the centre of Damascus today the funeral processions for those killed yesterday began.

The centre of the city was filled with demonstrators loyal to the regime, protesting to show their anger over the attacks outside two government buildings that killed 28 people yesterday.

Meanwhile new video footage has emerged from social media activists in Homs showing the aftermath of attacks on the city from the end of last week.

The footage, which cannot be independently verified, was posted today after being filmed yesterday. It appears to show parts of the city completely devastated by tanks.

The Bab al Sebaa district of Homs was previously a rebel stronghold. It now appears deserted.

The United Nations says more than 8,000 people have been killed by security forces in the crackdown on a revolt against four decade of rule by the Assad family.

The struggle has become increasingly bloody as peaceful protest has given way to rebellion by armed groups.

Authorities say they are fighting foreign militants who have killed more than 2,000 members of the security forces.