Syrian minister, deputy minister killed in blast

DAMASCUS Two groups have claimed responsibility for an attack which killed Syria's defense minister and President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law in Damascus. The bomber, said by a security source to be a bodyguard assigned to Assad's inner circle, struck a meeting attended by ministers and senior security officials in the Syrian capital as battles raged within sight of the presidential palace, Reuters has reported. Syrian minister, deputy minister killed in blast Syrian rebel Islamist group, Liwa Al-Islam, has claimed responsibility for the bombing on its Facebook page. The group said it attacked “the cell known as a control crisis room in the capital of Damascus”. The Free Syrian Army has also claimed the responsibility for the attack. Defense Minister Daoud Rajha and his deputy and Assad's brother-in-law Assef Shawkat were killed in the attack that targeted National Security headquarters. Security officials told AFP that several other participants attending a high-level meeting were wounded in the blast. A security source said the suicide attacker targeted the gathering with an explosives belt. Rajha, a Christian, was defense minister, deputy army chief and deputy head of the Council of Ministers. Assad himself is overall commander of the military, AFP points out. Earlier, activists reported more clashes during the night in several areas around the south-west of Damascus, BBC has reported. They said the government had brought more troops and amour into some districts, and that several people had been killed in clashes and bombardments. The rebels have declared a final battle for the capital, calling it Operation Damascus Volcano, and have been fighting troops in several parts of Damascus for the past three days. The fighting reached central areas on Tuesday, with gunfire and plumes of smoke reported in a street near parliament. The Free Syrian Army said the operation was well planned, and they had sent hundreds of fighters to the capital last week to be in place for the assault. The rebels and the government often publish contradictory accounts of the same incidents, BBC says. Opposition groups say as many as 16,000 people have died in Syria since protests against Assad began in March 2011. The UN Security Council will vote on a resolution on Syria on Wednesday evening. Two draft resolutions have been submitted to the Security Council. (Beta) Tanjug

Syrian minister, deputy minister killed in blast

Syrian rebel Islamist group, Liwa Al-Islam, has claimed responsibility for the bombing on its Facebook page. The group said it attacked “the cell known as a control crisis room in the capital of Damascus”.

The Free Syrian Army has also claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Defense Minister Daoud Rajha and his deputy and Assad's brother-in-law Assef Shawkat were killed in the attack that targeted National Security headquarters.

Security officials told AFP that several other participants attending a high-level meeting were wounded in the blast. A security source said the suicide attacker targeted the gathering with an explosives belt.

Rajha, a Christian, was defense minister, deputy army chief and deputy head of the Council of Ministers. Assad himself is overall commander of the military, AFP points out.

Earlier, activists reported more clashes during the night in several areas around the south-west of Damascus, BBC has reported.

They said the government had brought more troops and amour into some districts, and that several people had been killed in clashes and bombardments.

The rebels have declared a final battle for the capital, calling it Operation Damascus Volcano, and have been fighting troops in several parts of Damascus for the past three days.

The fighting reached central areas on Tuesday, with gunfire and plumes of smoke reported in a street near parliament.

The Free Syrian Army said the operation was well planned, and they had sent hundreds of fighters to the capital last week to be in place for the assault.

The rebels and the government often publish contradictory accounts of the same incidents, BBC says.

Opposition groups say as many as 16,000 people have died in Syria since protests against Assad began in March 2011.

The UN Security Council will vote on a resolution on Syria on Wednesday evening. Two draft resolutions have been submitted to the Security Council.