Al Bhatti
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15 Aug 2012
Explosion near UN hotel in Damascus
Syrian state TV says three people injured in blast in the city centre near hotel used by the UN observer mission.
A bomb has exploded in central Damascus near the hotel used by the UN observer mission in Syria, wounding three people, according to Syrian state television.
It said the blast, in the Abu Remanih area near a military depot and the trade union headquarters, was caused by a bomb planted in a fuel vehicle on Wednesday morning.
Several ambulances rushed to the scene and a security cordon was set up, according to witnesses.
The head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), General Babacar Gaye, had held a press conference in the the hotel, the Dama Rose, on Monday.
Opposition activists said massive explosions echoed across much of the city and a video released by one opposition group showed a large plume of smoke billowing into the sky.
The UN mission was not immediately available for comment.
Series of explosions
A spokesperson for the opposition Local Co-ordination Committees in Damascus told Al Jazeera there was a big explosion followed by a series of smaller explosions.
There was no confirmation that the rebel Free Syrian Army was responsible.
Shareef Shihada, a member of Syrian parliament, said only few people injured and some damage. He said the explosion had not hit a military target.
Damascus has been rocked by several bomb blasts, including an attack last month at the national security headquarters that killed three of President Bashar al-Assad's top security chiefs.
The UN Security Council is due to meet on Thursday to discuss the future of the UN observer mission, whose mandate expires on August 19.
The US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, accused Iran on Tuesday of setting up pro-government militias in Syria.
Iran has made similar claims of intervention in the conflict by the US and its allies.
Explosion near UN hotel in Damascus - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Explosion near UN hotel in Damascus
Syrian state TV says three people injured in blast in the city centre near hotel used by the UN observer mission.
A bomb has exploded in central Damascus near the hotel used by the UN observer mission in Syria, wounding three people, according to Syrian state television.
It said the blast, in the Abu Remanih area near a military depot and the trade union headquarters, was caused by a bomb planted in a fuel vehicle on Wednesday morning.
Several ambulances rushed to the scene and a security cordon was set up, according to witnesses.
The head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), General Babacar Gaye, had held a press conference in the the hotel, the Dama Rose, on Monday.
Opposition activists said massive explosions echoed across much of the city and a video released by one opposition group showed a large plume of smoke billowing into the sky.
The UN mission was not immediately available for comment.
Series of explosions
A spokesperson for the opposition Local Co-ordination Committees in Damascus told Al Jazeera there was a big explosion followed by a series of smaller explosions.
There was no confirmation that the rebel Free Syrian Army was responsible.
Shareef Shihada, a member of Syrian parliament, said only few people injured and some damage. He said the explosion had not hit a military target.
Damascus has been rocked by several bomb blasts, including an attack last month at the national security headquarters that killed three of President Bashar al-Assad's top security chiefs.
The UN Security Council is due to meet on Thursday to discuss the future of the UN observer mission, whose mandate expires on August 19.
The US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, accused Iran on Tuesday of setting up pro-government militias in Syria.
Iran has made similar claims of intervention in the conflict by the US and its allies.
Explosion near UN hotel in Damascus - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
