Blasts close to Damascus' main Shi'ite shrine kill 60 – monitor

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Blasts close to Damascus' main Shi'ite shrine kill 60 – monitor



DAMASCUS: -- Dozens of people were killed and scores wounded in Damascus on Sunday (January 31) when three blasts rocked the Sayeda Zeinab district of the capital, home to Syria’s holiest Shi’ite Shrine.

The Sunni militant group calling itself Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. Amaq, a news agency that supports the group, said two operations “hit the most important stronghold of Shi’ite militias in Damascus”

Syrian state news agency SANA, quoting an interior ministry source, said a group of militants had detonated a car bomb near a public transport garage. Two suicide bombers then blew themselves up nearby as people were being rescued.

More than 60 people were killed in the attack, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. SANA reported that at least 45 people were killed and 110 wounded.

The Sayeda Zeinab shrine holds the grave of one of the Prophet Muhammad’s grand-daughters and is particularly revered by Shiites from Iran, Lebanon and other parts of the Muslim world.

The explosions occurred as representatives of Syria’s government and its divided opposition began convening in Geneva for the first U.N.-mediated peace talks in two years.

The United Nations has said the aim would be six months of talks, first seeking a ceasefire and later working toward a political settlement to a war that has killed more than 250,000 people, driven more than 10 million from their homes and drawn in global powers.

Sources: AFP and Reuters


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-02-01

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Damascus blasts aimed at disrupting Syria peace talks – EU foreign policy chief



GENEVA: -- Sunday’s deadly blasts in Damascus were intended to disrupt Syria’s fledgling peace talks, according to the European Union’s foreign policy chief.

“The attack near the Sayeda Zeinab shrine is clearly aimed to disrupt the attempts to start a political process,” Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

As UN mediator Staffan de Mistura met Syria’s Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC) main opposition for the first time on Sunday, the group warned that it may walk away unless civilians’ suffering is eased.

“It is important for us to see that food goes to our children who are starved to death, to see Syrian families, Syrian women are safe, sitting in their homes, in their houses,” said HNC spokesman Salim al-Muslat, pointing the finger of blame at Russian strikes.

The Saudi-backed group only came to Geneva under pressure, notably from the United States.

Syria’s government delegation had already met de Mistura.

It says moves like the creation of humanitarian corridors and ceasefires are being considered but suggests they might come about as a result of the talks, not before them.

“The goal is obviously to participate in an indirect dialogue between Syrians to relaunch a comprehensive political process in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, without preconditions or foreign interference,” government delegation leader and Syria’s UN Ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari said.

Both sides’ demands appear far from compatible, and as mediators get to grips with the ground rules, the bloodbath in Syria continues.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-02-01