18 killed, 56 wounded in blast in pro-gov't Damascus suburb

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 6 -- At least 18 people, including three children, were killed and 56 others wounded when a powerful blast rattled a pro-government district of the Syrian capital of Damascus Tuesday evening, state TV reported.

Initial information indicated that the blast was caused by a booby-trapped car that ripped through an intersection between al- Khidr street and al-Soyouf square in the area of Jaramana, said the report.

The explosion burnt a four-storey building and a passenger bus in the area.

Jaramana has been hit by tens of explosions due to its pro- government stance as most of its residents are Christians and Druze. Both minorities back the administration of President Bashar al-Assad against the extremist-led rebels.

The blast came just an hour after a powerful explosion was heard in the capital's main Palestinian camp, al-Yarmouk, which is witnessing intense battles between the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and pro-government armed members of the Palestinian committees.

Meanwhile, activists claimed that the government forces fired two surface-to-surface missiles that struck the al-Yarmouk camp and the rebellious Qadam district. It said heavy smoke were bellowing over the area. Yet, their account could not be independently verified.

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