Syria conflict: Fresh offensive against rebels

The BBC's Jim Muir says unverified footage purports to show the aftermath of an attack on a funeral procession

Syrian troops have been mobilised in a drive to oust armed rebels from parts of Damascus, a day after a bomb attack that killed three top regime figures.

Tanks, artillery and helicopters have been deployed and clashes reported south-west and north-east of the city.
President Assad has not appeared publicly since the bomb - but state TV says he swore in the defence minister.
Russia and China have vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for tougher sanctions on Syria.
Under the Western-backed plan, the Damascus government would have been threatened with non-military sanctions under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter if it failed to move troops and heavy weapons from populated areas.
It is the third time that Moscow and Beijing have vetoed sanctions against Syria.
With sporadic battles breaking out for control of Damascus, international envoy Kofi Annan has pushed the international community to take urgent and decisive action.
The Security Council must also decide whether to renew the mandate of a UN mission in Syria, due to end on Friday.
The Syrian state TV did not give any details of where the swearing-in ceremony that Mr Assad allegedly attended took place. The job was given to armed forces chief Gen Fahd Jassim al-Furay after that attack.

"The whole city is shaken. Worried about passing any government building or checkpoint, people are choosing to stay at home instead”

Damascus-based reporter

'Imminent fall'

The bombing at Syria's national security headquarters claimed the lives of three high profile figures in President Assad's defence establishment

 

The three men were at a security meeting at the time of the blast

• Defence Minister and ex-chief of staff Gen Daoud Rajiha
• Deputy Defence Minister Assef Shawkat, married to Mr Assad's sister Bushra
• Assistant to the vice-president and head of crisis management office Gen Hassan Turkomani
• Two other senior officials - interior minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar and National Security Bureau chief Hisham Ikhtiar- were wounded

Rebel groups said the bomb had been planted the day before the meeting at national security headquarters where it was detonated. They predicted the government's imminent fall.
In contrast with earlier explosions in Damascus, there were no photos or video from the scene.
After the attack the government vowed to root out ruthlessly what it described as armed terrorists backed by outside powers.

Unverified footage purportedly shows people celebrating following the death of the officials

Our correspondent says that video of one attack posted on the internet showed scenes of pandemonium after what activists said was a helicopter gunship attack on a funeral procession at Sitt Zeinab, south of the capital. They said at least 60 people were killed in this incident alone.
Activists also said there was fighting near the cabinet office on the western side of Damascus.
In the capital itself, state media said, security forces launched operations in many areas which have seen clashes in recent days, killing many "terrorists".
Activists reported more tanks moving towards the capital from the west.
But our correspondent says the rebels are on the offensive too, warning state TV and radio to evacuate staff before its headquarters comes under attack.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that more than 150 people had died across the country on Wednesday, in one of the worst days of a 16-month revolt.