DAMASCUS, Syria – Two strong explosions ripped through the Syrian capital Thursday,killing at least 40, wounding 170 and damaging a militaryintelligence building, officials said. The blasts happened at about 7:50 a.m. when employees are usuallyarriving at work. An Associated Press reporter at the scene said medical workers werecollecting human remains from the streets after the explosions, andthere were smoldering cars and pickup trucks in the area. The outerwall of a military intelligence building collapsed, although thestructure inside appeared intact. The Syrian government blamed "terrorists" and said dozens werekilled and wounded. Central Damascus is tightly under the control of forces loyal toPresident Bashar Assad but has been struck by several bomb attacks,often targeting security installations or convoys. The latest major explosion in the capital occurred on April 27 whena suicide bomber detonated an explosives belt near members of thesecurity forces, killing at least nine people and wounding 26. Syria's conflict started in March 2011 with mass protests callingfor political reform. The government swiftly cracked down,dispatching tanks, troops, snipers and pro-government thugs toquash dissent, and many members of the opposition took up arms todefend themselves and attack government troops. Many soldiers alsoswitched sides. There was no claim of responsibility for Thursday's blasts. But anAl Qaeda-inspired group has claimed responsibility for several pastexplosions, raising fears that terrorist groups are entering thefray and exploiting the chaos. The U.N said weeks ago that more than 9,000 people had been killed.Hundreds more have died since. International diplomacy has failed to stop the bloodshed, and theU.N. has ruled out military intervention of the type that helpedbring down Libya's Muammar Qaddafi, in part out of fear that itcould exacerbate the violence. On Wednesday, a roadside bomb hit a Syrian military truck in asouthern province just seconds after the head of the U.N. observerteam was driving by in a convoy, demonstrating the fragility of theinternational plan to end the country's bloodshed. In Washington, meanwhile, President Barack Obama took steps toextend sanctions against Assad's government, saying Syria poses an"unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security anddiplomatic goals. I am an expert from studwelding-equipment.com, while we provides the quality product, such as CD Weld Studs Manufacturer , China CD Stud Welding, Weld Stud Gun,and more.
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