Syrian Prime Minister Survives Car Bomb Attack

<p>DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- A car bomb attack targeted Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi killed at least one person, local authorities said Monday.

</p>

<p>The attack took place in the western district of Mazzeh in Damascus, the country's capital, when a car bomb targeted al-Halqi's convoy. Syria's Information Ministery, Omran al-Zoubi said the attack shows that certain sides of the conflict have rejected a political solution, as the government continues its effort for national dialogue.

</p>

<p>The attack reportedly killed at least one person, although the exact death toll was not immediately known. Prime Minister al-Halqi, however, narrowly survived the attack.

</p>

<p>Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack through his spokesperson, expressing his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

</p>

<p>"The Secretary-General has consistently condemned all acts of terrorism. The targeting of civilians and civilian objects by anyone is unacceptable," the statement said, adding that Ban remains "extremely worried" at the escalation of violence in Syria, where civilians continue to be killed, injured, detained and abducted every day, including most recently the kidnapping of two prominent clerics in northern Syria.

</p>

<p>In addition, Ban has continued to stress international towards for an immediate political solution, calling for a halt in the supply of weapons to any side in Syria.

</p>

<p>According to the UN, there are 6.8 million people in need as a result of the ongoing crisis in Syria, with 4.25 million people internally displaced and an additional 1.3 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The conflict has also killed over 70,000 people since efforts to oust President Bashar Al-Assad began in March 2011.

</p> <p> (Copyright 2013 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].) </p>