Six killed in bomb attack on Assad ally

The Syrian PM's convoy was bombed
The Syrian PM's convoy was bombed
REUTERS

Syrian rebels struck at the heart of Damascus yesterday in an attempt to blow up the country’s Prime Minister, a close ally of President Assad.

Wael al-Halqi survived, but at least six people were killed, including a bodyguard, when the car bomb exploded beside his convoy in the previously highly secure neighbourhood of Mezzeh, western Damascus. Syrian state television showed footage of a column of thick smoke and a burnt-out car and a bus.

Mr Halqi was quoted by Sana, the state-run news agency, as saying that the attack was a sign of the “bankruptcy and failure of the terrorist groups”, a reference to the armed opposition.

The attack demonstrates how the Syrian opposition is now hitting close to the centre of power. Two weeks