Syrian state media say a bombing in central Damascus has killed at least 13 people and wounded 70 others.
The blast Tuesday hit the Marjeh district of the capital. Television footage shows large plumes of smoke and damage to buildings and cars in the area.
The state-run SANA news agency blamed the explosion on terrorists, a term Syrian officials frequently use to describe those fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said earlier that at least nine people died in the blast. Witnesses also reported gunfire in the area after the bombing.
The explosion Tuesday comes a day after Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi escaped a bomb attack against his convoy on the west side of Damascus. The Observatory said that blast killed six people, including five civilians.
The blast Tuesday hit the Marjeh district of the capital. Television footage shows large plumes of smoke and damage to buildings and cars in the area.
The state-run SANA news agency blamed the explosion on terrorists, a term Syrian officials frequently use to describe those fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said earlier that at least nine people died in the blast. Witnesses also reported gunfire in the area after the bombing.
The explosion Tuesday comes a day after Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi escaped a bomb attack against his convoy on the west side of Damascus. The Observatory said that blast killed six people, including five civilians.