Syrian defense minister killed in suicide blast


BEIRUT (AP) — A suicide bomber struck the National Security building in the Syrian capital Wednesday, killing the defense minister and wounding the interior minister in a brazen attack on the seat of government power, state-run TV said.

Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha, 65, a former army general, is the most senior government official to be killed in the Syrian civil war as rebels battle to oust President Bashar Assad. Interior Minister Mohammed Shaar was in stable condition, state-run TV said.

Although it was unclear who was behind the attack, the high-level assassination could signal a turning point in the 16-month conflict as the violence becomes increasingly chaotic.

The capital also has seen four straight days of clashes pitting government troops against rebels — an unprecedented challenge to government rule in the tightly controlled capital.

Rajha was the most senior Christian government official in Syria. Assad appointed him to the post last year. His death will resonate with Syria's minority Christian population, who make up about 10 percent of Syria's population and have generally stood by the regime.

Christians say they are particularly vulnerable to the violence sweeping the country of 22 million people, and they are fearful that Syria will become another Iraq, with Christians caught in the crossfire between rival Muslim groups.

Wednesday's attack struck the National Security building in Damascus during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials. State-run TV said some of the officials were seriously wounded.

Damascus-based activist Omar al-Dimashki said Republican Guard troops surrounded the nearby al-Shami Hospital where some officials were taken for treatment.

The blast came on the same day the U.N. Security Council was scheduled to vote on a new resolution aimed at pressuring the Syrian regime to comply with a peace plan.

But Russia remained at loggerheads with the U.S. and its European allies over any mention of sanctions and Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which could eventually allow the use of force to end the conflict in Syria.

Besides a government crackdown, rebel fighters are launching increasingly deadly attacks on regime targets, and several massive suicide attacks this year suggest al-Qaida or other extremists are joining the fray.

Activists say more than 17,000 people have been killed since the uprising began in March 2011.

The state-run news agency SANA reported that Wednesday's blast was aimed at the National Security building, a headquarters for one of Syria's intelligence branches and less than 500 meters (yards) from the U.S. Embassy.

Police had cordoned off the area, and journalists were banned from approaching the site.

Earlier Wednesday, SANA said soldiers were chasing rebels in the Midan neighborhood, causing "great losses among them." The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said army helicopters attacked the neighborhoods of Qaboun and Barzeh.

Diplomacy so far has failed to stop the bloodshed, and there appeared to be little hope that the U.N.'s most powerful body would unite behind a plan.

The key stumbling block is the Western demand for a resolution threatening non-military sanctions and tied to Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, which could eventually allow the use of force to end the conflict in Syria.

Russia is adamantly opposed to any mention of sanctions or Chapter 7. After Security Council consultations late Tuesday on a revised draft resolution pushed by Moscow, Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador Alexander Pankin said these remain "red lines."

Russia has said it will veto any Chapter 7 resolution, but council diplomats said there is still a possibility of last-minute negotiations.

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The capital also has seen four straight days of clashes pitting government troops against rebels — an unprecedented challenge to government rule in the tightly controlled capital.

Only God could end this fight.

Serial bombings
May this not be the portion of Nigeria abeg ooo

This has degenerated to something else.

Russia and China will help their friend ASSAD

and some mumu will say Islam is a religion of peace, would anyone embark on a journey to kill and get himself killed in return apart from Ishmelite?

Na wao!

Reports confirm that there was no suicide bomber, but a 40kg bomb planted in the national security office meeting room

america is supplying this rebels with weapons to fight assad government,i hope the won't regret it later as the did with osama bin laden.

Boko Haram learnt from their Muslim brothers in palestine, Pakistan Iraq , yemen et al. Thank God for ramadan next week, there will b a halt on suicide bombings world wide till after 30 days.

tbaba1234: Reports confirm that there was no suicide bomber, but a 40kg bomb planted in the national security office meeting room

Yes that was what the rebel leaders said and that every one that took part in it is safe.

ebamma: america is supplying this rebels with weapons to fight assad government,i hope the won't regret it later as the did with osama bin laden.

what point r u making here....
Osama Bin Laden's is nothing compared 2 Syria as both r 2 very different n incomparable happenings.
If u had mentioned Libya, dt would have be an Okay bt Osama is baseless n perhaps shows dt u maybe neva followed d ill- act by Asaad on his people n knw nothing of hw Osama ws killed.

Just one video footage of d Syrian military on d civilians wil make u knw dt d supply of weapons to d armless Syrians is an act long delayed as it took a very long time after so much plea from d international community b4 these weapons were given to them.
Asaad will follow d steps of Ghadaffi cos I knw he will not surrender bt will fyt to d end as he will rather die than to face d international court tribunal for crime against humanity...

Russia are always modafuckers in world politics! always showing themselves....they dont mind selling arms to you to fight wars instead of brokering peace

Its the beginning of the end of Assad. Funny enough most of the weapons used in the wars keep ending up in Africa in the hands of Haramic entities.

una try

Syria needs to change the dynamics, let them launch rockets into the Russia embassy in Turkey, Armenia and Jordan as a diversion. Russia will strike US and UK interests in the Gulf Region in retaliation. I cant wait to see these world powers decimating themselves.

this is just the begining of the end of ASSAD regime, so pls CIA who else on the Raddar,........ Ok Amadinijad of Ira...........if u lyk add N or Tehran is ur headace. Am out ar of here B4 they said i said.......

brownlord: and some mumu will say Islam is a religion of peace, would anyone embark on a journey to kill and get himself killed in return apart from Ishmelite?

. You monkey. Your disgust 4 ISLAM the religion of Peace is nothing but show of frustration.

Hmm Another country with many religion of piss citizen.. By d way is assad an atheist?

this is a gud news, may Dawoud Rajha, rest in peace

billante: Russia are always modafuckers in world politics! always showing themselves....they dont mind selling arms to you to fight wars instead of brokering peace

But which country supplies weapons to the opposition terrorist gang in syria?
So you want Russia to become a US puppet like many other nations? No way, Russia is too strong for America to manipulate.

them rebels don't mess around

Russia is like a bone in the throat of the US,too powerful to be manipulated at the same time indestructible.

alhussangle@gma:
. You monkey. Your disgust 4 ISLAM the religion of Peace is nothing but show of frustration.

But where is the peace in islam na

Russia is angry with UN (US AND UK) for the role they played in the murder of Gadaffi. He chalanged d west and was murderd by them in d disguise of a revolution. So their stand 2 d UN is to leave Syria 2 solve its problem by its self without foreign interference and will fallout with any country that tries to interfere. Otherwise Assad would have been murdered long ago.

billante: Russia are always modafuckers in world politics! always showing themselves....they dont mind selling arms to you to fight wars instead of brokering peace

Another very stupid nescient Nigerian. My friend stop watching CNN and all other mainstream media that keep hoodwinking you. Actually, its the irony. Go and do your research. Russia has been the Monkey wrench preventing another libyan-style genocide from taking place. Have you read the Kofi Annan led peace plan and who has been supporting it? Please do me a big favor, never you make a comment without reading the facts and participations of all parties involved.

Mcdondayan: Russia is angry with UN (US AND UK) for the role they played in the murder of Gadaffi. He chalanged d west and was murderd by them in d disguise of a revolution. So their stand 2 d UN is to leave Syria 2 solve its problem by its self without foreign interference and will fallout with any country that tries to interfere. Otherwise Assad would have been murdered long ago.

A Nigerian who has been following the process. Thanks!

Billyonaire: Syria needs to change the dynamics, let them launch rockets into the Russia embassy in Turkey, Armenia and Jordan as a diversion. Russia will strike US and UK interests in the Gulf Region in retaliation. I cant wait to see these world powers decimating themselves.

and u think u'll be sleeping peacefuly in Africa, in this era of colonial/economic ties and Biological Weapons?

justwise: Russia and China will help their friend ASSAD

I don't know why Russian president, Vladimir Putin always on the opposition. There are not good reasons other than hypocritical ones for self interest. That man should get his policy step up to helping the people than supporting autocracy.

all4naija: I don't know why Russian president, Vladimir Putin always on the opposition. [b]There are not good reasons other than hypocritical ones for self interest. [/b]That man should get his policy step up to helping the people than supporting autocracy.

He will be an odd number soon, i really hope that the West stay away while ASSAD regime,Russia and China battle this one out. One thing is sure. . .any resolution backed by Russia and China will never be passed in UN national assemble without Western support.

Assad is not going to survive this, his misters will keep abounding him until he leaves the country or get killed.

naffysa:
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Na the useless long necked president dem for bomb. His days are numbered according to Hillary

Russia is secretly helping Assad and openly defending him, US is doing same for the Rebels. With the might of syrian army and the under equiped rebels one would think it will take very long for the rebels to topple the government as was done in Libya. I am really suprised the rebels could pull off what they did today. I suspect a mole in Assad circle. Three ministers wiped in one blow. In any case Assad is going down, its just a matter of time.

BTW image how life could be living in damascus right now. War! War! War! War! Its better imagined than to witness it. But then if you want long and enduring peace, you must be ready for War. Cruel world.