At least 13 killed in blast outside police station in Damascus

At least 13 people were killed and many others wounded in a car bombing near a police station in Bab Touma in old Damascus, which is mostly inhabited by minority Christians.

Syrian official sources said the bomb was placed under the vehicle and caused huge damage, adding that several vehicles were burnt in the blast as ambulances attend the site.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights gave a toll of 15 dead and dozens wounded.

No one has adopted this operation. Furthermore, Free Syrian Army denied having any relation with this explosion.

However, the explosion took place after President Bashar al-Assad's meeting with the international envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, who has called for a truce during the four-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) next week.

SANA news reported that Assad said his country was open to any genuine endeavor at finding a political solution to the ongoing unrest, adding that Assad discussed the latest developments in Syria with Brahimi.

Following the meeting, Brahimi urged the two sides in the Syrian conflict to declare unilateral ceasefires.

“I appeal to everyone to take a unilateral decision to cease hostilities on the occasion of Eid al-Adha and that this truce should be respected from today or tomorrow,” Brahimi said, state television reported.

Some sources reported that Assad's meeting with the UN envoy was very short, lasting only 15 minutes.

Earlier on Saturday, Brahimi held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, which the ministry described as constructive and serious.

SANA news said that both sides discussed means of developing cooperation in this regard and what Syria was providing to facilitate Brahimi's mission.

In related news, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told French television that Syria was probably involved in a Beirut car bombing that killed a top anti-Damascus security official, General Wissam al Hassan.

"We do not yet know exactly who is behind this, but there are indications that it is an extension of the Syrian tragedy beyond its borders," said Fabius.

"I think it is an extension of what is happening in Syria, which makes it even more necessary to see the departure of Bashar al-Assad."

Fabius also called Assad a manipulator who wanted to spread the contagion to Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon.

Opinion:

I did not know that the members of Syrian regime are that much “narrow-minded.” The blast, which happened today, is the first attack in Bab Tuma, one of the oldest quarters of Damascus.

This area is inhabited by Christians, as if the regime of Bashar wants to address a stupid message that the Beirut bombing in the Christian Quarter and the blast, which happened today in Syria, are both being carried out by an extremist group against Christians.

I know very well the area in which the blast occurred. It is very quiet, and the Free Syrian Army would never think to bomb that area as there is no presence for the regime members over there, except in a police station. Usually the Free Syrian Army targets army bases and headquarters.

I think that Brahimi understood, today, the reason for Kofi Annan’s failure, which is that Assad talks about peace and quietness, while at the same time killing civilians with his war planes and tanks. For this, if the truce which Brahimi seeks did not work, he will not continue as an international mediator and therefore UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon will have to search for another envoy.

I've noticed that whenever an international official arrives to Syria, bombings in certain places happens. The question is, why don't these explosions occur when an Iranian or a Russian official visits Syria?

There is information stating that some Western countries are sending weapons to the Free Syrian Army, but in total secrecy. Some sources said it is France that sends the weapons, as many members of the Free Syrian Army are carrying FAMAS-G2 guns, which are of French origin.

Neither the Free Syrian Army nor France would confirm this news, knowing that certain information indicates that, despite America's objections, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are still supporting the Free Syrian Army, financially and militarily.

Sources:

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/10/21/245025.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4294821,00.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/huge-explosion-hits-the-old-city-of-damascus-killing-at-least-13-as-syrian-unrest-continues-8219633.html