Beijing, Apr. 29 (Xinhua-ANI): Syrian Prime Minister Wael al- Halqi has escaped unharmed from a blast that targeted his convoy in Damascus earlier on Monday and killed at least eight people, pro-government al-Ekhbaria TV reported.
The explosion has targeted al-Halqi”s convoy in Damascus” western neighborhood of al-Mazzeh near the Electricity Directorate and close to a park and a school, local media said, adding that many others were wounded.
One of al-Halqi”s escorts is believed to have been killed in the attack, reports said, adding that big material losses were also caused to nearby buildings and cars.
The high-profile assassination attempt is the latest in a series of plots that have targeted Syrian officials and army officers.
Last December, the rebels staged a blast near the Interior Ministry in Damascus, targeting Interior Minister Let. Gen. Mohammad al-Shaar. The minister survived the attack, but sustained serious injuries before recovering in a hospital in neighboring Lebanon.
A deadly attack last July killed four Syrian officials and was considered as the harshest blow against the administration of President Bashar al-Assad.
Those killed including Defense Minister Dawood Rajiha, Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat, who is Assad’s brother-in-law, and Hasan Turkmani, Assad”s security adviser. (Xinhua-ANI)