Clashes in Damascus intensify

media reports claiming that hundreds of armed men have been killed over the past 24 hours.
The state-run SANA news agency said dozens of armed men have surrendered themselves and laid down their weapons in a number of neighbourhoods.
The capital has been witnessing sa surge in clashes between the government troops and armed rebels, who are expressing unwavering support to bring down the capital.
The intensity of clashes ramped up Wednesday after a blast tore through a security compound hosting a meeting of top officials and cronies to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian Defense Minister Dawood Rajha and his deputy Assef Shawkat were killed in the bombing, and Assistant Vice President Hassan Turkmani died later of wounds sustained in the blast. Shawkat is also the president’s brother-in-law.
The broad-based rebel leadership has claimed responsibility for the attack and pledged more to come.The attack dealt a strong blow to the Syrian leadership, which pledged to retaliate hard. The streets of Damascus are deserted by and shops are also closed, as people are now cowering in their homes, fearing the consequences of what the rebels have named as “the great battle of Damascus.”
The opposition group, Local Co-ordination Committees, reported the Syrian troops’ shel-ling on a number of Syrian areas, adding that more than 13 people have been killed so far.
The Head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria Major-General Robert Mood said yesterday that Syria is not on track of peace given the intensity of violence over the past days. He also said that there is no hope of military showdown, saying that without dialogue and concessions from both the government and the opposition, the coming days will bring more sufferings. — Xinhua