Syria PM Survives Car Bomb Attack

RIA Novosti

16:41 29/04/2013 MOSCOW, April 29 (RIA Novosti) - Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi survived a bomb attack that targeted his motorcade in central Damascus on Monday, national media reported.

The explosion rocked the Mazzeh district near the Ibn Rushed park in Damascus causing casualties and damage, the SANA news agency said.

Al-Halqi was reported to be “well and not hurt at all,” by SANA sources, although at least six other people were killed in the blast and more than 20 wounded, Al Jazeera said.

An improvised explosive device was placed under a car that was parked in the area and was detonated as al-Halqi's car drove by, a Syrian government official told The Associated Press.

Al-Halqi responded to the attack by telling state TV "these types of attacks are nothing but proof of the discouragement and despair of the terrorist groups as a result of the actions of the Syrian army," according to Al Jazeera.

He has only held the post of premier since August, when he replaced his predecessor Riad Hijaab, who defected to the opposition.

Last July, a suicide bombing killed the Syrian defense minister and his deputy and wounded the interior minister.