Syria's Prime
Minister,Wael al-Halki has survived a bomb attack on his convoy in Damascus, as
rebels struck in the heart of President Bashar al-Assad's capital.
Six people were killed in the blast, the British-based
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Previous rebels
attacks on government targets included a December bombing that wounded
Mr Assad's interior minister.
Mayadeen TV, a network loyal to Mr Assad, said nine people
died and 17 were injured.
As prime minister, al-Halki wields little power but the
attack highlighted the rebels' growing ability to target symbols of Mr Assad's
authority in a civil war that, according to the United Nations (UN), has cost
more than 70,000 lives.
Mr Assad picked Dr
Halki in August to replace Riyad Hijab, who defected and escaped to
neighbouring Jordan just weeks after a bombing killed four of the president's
top security advisers.
Monday's blast shook
the Mezze district soon after 9am local time sending thick black smoke into the
sky. The Observatory said one man accompanying Dr Halki was killed, as well as
five passers-by.
State television
showed firemen hosing down the charred and mangled remains of a car. Close by
was a large white bus, its windows blown out and its seats gutted by fire.
Glass and debris were scattered across
the street.
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