Syria: Dozens killed in huge Damascus explosions

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, flames and smoke raise from burned cars after two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday May 10, 2012. / AP Photo/SANA

Updated at 2:15 p.m. Eastern

(CBS/AP) DAMASCUS, Syria - Two suicide car bombs ripped through the Syrian capital Thursday, killing at least 55 people and tearing the facade off a military intelligence building in the deadliest explosions since the country's uprising began 14 months ago, the Interior Ministry said.

Residents told an Associated Press reporter that the blasts happened in quick succession during morning rush hour, with an initial small explosion followed by a larger bomb that appeared aimed at onlookers and rescue crews arriving at the scene. Paramedics wearing rubber gloves collected human remains from the pavement as heavily damaged cars and pickup trucks smoldered.

CBS News' George Baghdadi says human remains and badly burned bodies littered the streets after the explosions, which also destroyed as many as 40 cars and pickup trucks. Baghdadi says the explosions appear to have targeted the so-called Palestine intelligence branch, and an aviation headquarters.

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There was no claim of responsibility for Thursday's blasts. But an al Qaeda-inspired group has claimed responsibility for several past explosions, raising fears that terrorist groups are entering the fray and exploiting the chaos.

In addition to the 55 dead, the ministry also said there were 15 bags of human remains, meaning the death toll was likely to rise.

More than 370 people also were wounded in the attack, according to the ministry, which is in charge of the country's internal security. It said the explosives weighed more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds).

The Syrian government blamed "terrorists" and said dozens were killed or wounded, most of them civilians. The leading opposition group, however, the Syrian National Council, cast blame on the government itself, according to Al-Arabiya television. The opposition has previously accused the Assad regime of carrying out large bomb attacks targeting government workers and buildings.

The actual culpability in the previous attacks has remained impossible to verify independently, given the restrictions on foreign media in Syria.

"The explosions shook the house; it was frightening," Mohhamed Ali, a local resident, tells CBS News. "I saw tens of bodies burned and dozens of wounded, mostly from the security (services)" he added. "I live a few hundred meters (yards) away but I saw some fingers in my neighborhood. The blast was huge."

Baghdadi says ambulances and other emergency vehicles were still working among the carnage as heavy earthmoving equipment began to clear the rubble. A crater about a yard and a half across and two yards deep could be seen at the spot where one off the blasts went off.

Victoria Nuland, a U.S. State Department spokeswoman, said the Obama administration condemned the attacks.

"We are concerned about the fact that this is a further indication that, far from having a ceasefire, the violence continues. It very much worries us with regard to whether the Annan plan can be implemented," Nuland said.

Despite the unclear origin of the attackers, Nuland said much of the blame for the current situation rests with the Assad regime.

"It is the Assad regime that created this climate of violence that is causing not only folks to take up arms in defense but is also providing an environment, potentially, for mischief to be made by others who don't favor peace in Syria," Nuland said.

Central Damascus is tightly under the control of forces loyal to President 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 when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives belt near members of the security forces, killing at least nine people and wounding 26.

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[samXXkiley]

coucou,
Bashar and his army of shame are perfidious. their attempts to mislead
international opinion are useless.
Syrian people will have the last word.
"au revoir"

[Larry732]

Don't worry. China and Russia have the backs of the Syrian people. Our staying out of this one is a good thing. The entire world can see how effective China and Russia are when it comes to the protection of innocent civilian lives.

I can't wait till it's over and we can all hear how China and Russia explain their horribly flawed stance.

Assad is as much a world criminal as Ahmedumbijad, Saddam, or Bin Laden.

[alinrodneyvil]

And that senile old idiot McCain wants us to get into that mess. We can't even tell who the players are.

[melpol12]

The type of explosives used in the blast could only be supplied by the Assad intelligence service. They will kill some of their underlings as an accuse to crackdown on the opposition.

[alinrodneyvil]

And how do you know this? How do you know what kind of explosives were used? Did someone call and tell you? You're just making that up aren't you?

[azereta]

Syria I feel for you, get those terrorists and jail them. The so called friends of Syria are there to create terror and death and they have an agenda, nasty pieces of work.

[Larry732]

@solsrister, I am very impressed with your mastery of the English language. Please dazzle us with more of it!

[stormerF69]

This will really lead to a cease fire from the regime? Maybe the rebels do not want a cease fire or is randomly killing anyone in the near proximity of a bomb collateral damage and boo hoo? Hopefully Assad will put this trash down soon and get on with business, keeping the US out of it.

[myronfagan]

It has nothing to do with Assad cracking down on terrorists. that is propaganda. The problem is the same of Libya.. CIA, MI6, Mossad supporting agents to attack and create havoc until they take over another country for the international government. Instead of oversight of Assad, how about oversight of the rebels and who is supporting them

[azereta]

I agree,

[smittyc]

The Middle East has gotten totally out of hand and Syria is under attack from terrorist who Obama now appears to be supporting. The United States has lost the support of Libya and Egypt, both countries populations now supporting the muslim brotherhood. The military in these countries is all that is holding the populations at bay and at gunpoint.