Four are killed in an attack Syria linked to chaos in the region, Damascus foiled terrorist operation
Syria, Politics, 4/28/2004

Syria yesterday evening was exposed to a "terrorist operation" that resulted in killing four persons, including two of the executors of the operation in al-Mezze area to the west of Damascus.

An official source at the Syrian ministry of the interior said that what the "region is taking place of unrest and chaos at the security and political field creates the atmosphere which gives haven to such deplored actions which threaten security and stability in the countries of the region as a whole."

A security source told the Syrian official news agency SANA that " devastating terrorist group" fired bullets indiscriminately in al-Mezze area and were intercepted by the security forces concerned and the situation was totally controlled." The Syrian TV broadcast the news in a news bulletin, two hours after the attack, together with pictures for people's demonstrations in al-Mezze to the west of Damascus deploring the attack.

SANA quoted a source at the ministry of the interior saying that two of the attackers were killed and the other two were gravely wounded, while one security member and one woman at the site of the incident were killed. The source explained that the armed group which is composed of four persons implanted one explosive under one car parked in al-Mezze area. The source added that the explosive went off and caused some material losses in an uninhabited building. The source continued that members of the security and police forces intercepted the group and besieged them and members of the group escaped in a second car while throwing mortars at the security men.

The source stressed that Syria who had faced all forms of terrorism and is still since more than quarters a century condemns this terrorist incident which tries to undermine stability and threatens the security of the citizen and the homeland, alike. This makes it imperative to take all necessary ordinary and extraordinary measures to withstand such cases so as to preserve security Syria has been enjoying since long times.

The Syrian TV said that the security forces found a shelter for weapons and explosives in Damascus.

For his part, the Syrian ambassador in Washington Imad Mustafa did not rule out in a statement to the CNN that al-Qaida base to be behind the incident. he said " Syria is not liked by al-Qaida." He added " all possibilities are open ." Replying to a question on his expectation of Washington's position, Mustafa said that Syria and the USA share the " same enemy." He continued "Syria supports the US in its war against al-Qaida " and Damascus will " intensify its security forces and we will search for the terrorists and their supporters."

In Washington one woman official at the Department Of State said she had received reports on two explosions and fire launching in Damascus, noting that the American embassy in Damascus will close its doors today ( Wednesday) as well as schools trodden by the American community. One officials at the UN said that it had received a warning to also close today ( Wednesday).

News reports quoted the spokeswoman for the UN Mary Okabi in New York as saying that the targeted building was the former headquarters of the Disenagement Forces in the Golan UNDOF. She indicated that no casualties are reported among the UN employees in the building which still affiliates to the UN. However, other news reports said that the " UN offices were not exposed to attack," noting that the UN had evacuated this building since a while." The Damascenes were preoccupied by the explosions which took place in one of the luxury quarters in the Syrian capital, the western quarters of Mezze which includes large number of companies, embassies and classy restaurants. News reports talked about a strong explosion in al-Mezze at 7 pm ( Damascus local time) followed by smaller explosions and later a fire exchange was heard, preceded by the deployment of the security forces to the area and total closure of it after cutting the electricity grid from it.

At 9 p.m. fire stopped in the area which includes several houses and the houses of ambassadors mainly the Iranian, Canadian and Saudi embassies and the house of the British ambassador. However, witnesses said that the main target was the headquarters of UNDOF on which traces of burnings were strong. A burnt car was also seen. The witnesses said no damages were inflicted in the building of the British ambassador, nor the Iranian embassy.

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