Explosion near Syrian security building in Aleppo


DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- An explosion ripped through a residential neighborhood in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday and the state news agency said it was a "terrorist bombing."


No one claimed responsibility for any of the attacks.


Saeed said the explosion went off around 1 p.m. and security forces started shooting in the air and cordoned off the area to prevent people from approaching. At that time of day, the area is usually crowded with people, especially on a Sunday, the first day of Syria's workweek, he added.


Some opposition leaders accused the regime of orchestrating the attacks to tarnish the anti-government movement behind the year-old uprising against Assad.

Both cities are considered Assad strongholds and have remained relatively insulated from the unrest shaking much of the country since the start of the uprising.

Assad security forces have violently cracked down on dissent as protests have spread. Many in the opposition have taken up arms to defend their towns and neighborhoods and attack government troops, as the increasingly militarized conflict has become one of the bloodiest of the Arab Spring.

The U.N. says more then 8,000 people have been killed in a year.

There have been a string of large-scale bombings near government security buildings in Damascus and Aleppo that suggest a dangerous, wild-card element to the anti-government revolt. The regime has blamed the opposition, which denies any role or the capabilities to carry out sophisticated attacks.




On Saturday, two suicide bombers detonated cars in near-simultaneous attacks on heavily guarded intelligence and security buildings, killing at least 27 people.

The explosions struck the heavily fortified air force intelligence building and the criminal security department, several miles apart, at approximately the same time, the Interior Ministry said. Much of the facade of the intelligence building appeared to have been ripped away.
