Large explosions in Syrian capital, Damascus

Local news reports that cars packed with explosives had been detonated outside a police head quarters and an intelligence centre this morning.

Gruesome images from the sites showed what appeared to be smouldering bodies in two separate vehicles, a wrecked minivan smeared with blood, and severed limbs collected in sacks.

At least 27 people were killed and 97 were wounded, another television channel said, quoting Health Minister Wael al-Halki.

One resident woken by the explosion said that the targets were not government or military forces:

“It is targeting the civilians, it does not target the military because it is a civil road. There was a minibus carrying civilians, all those cars belong to civilians. It was not meant to target the security forces nor the army. The objective was targeting the safety and security of Syrians.”

The attacks followed three suicide bombings in Damascus in December and January which killed at least 70 people, and an attack in Aleppo in February that killed 28.

The army has shelled rebel strongholds in various places in recent weeks before sending in troops to round up suspects. Opposition activists say thousands of civilians have died, with many bodies found bearing signs of torture.

The Syrian government denies accusations of brutality and says it is fighting a foreign-backed insurgency.

Today’s blast came just two days after the first anniversary of the uprising, in which more than 8,000 people have been killed and about 230,000 forced to flee their homes, according to United Nations figures.

They also coincided with a joint mission by the Syrian government, the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation that was due to start assessing humanitarian needs in towns across Syria which have suffered from months of unrest.

There is a growing sense that Kofi Annan’s efforts are Syria’s last opportunities for engaging with the international community.

Diplomats have warned that without a swift resolution, Syria will descend into a full-blown civil war.