Syrian regime to ‘strike back’ at recent violence

Syria's government condemned the blast of a bomb in the capital, Damascus, which killed at least 26 civilians and members of the security forces.

The deadly blast happened at a busy junction in the Midan district of Damascus. Syrian state TV showed the shattered blood-stained windows of what appeared to be a bus carrying policemen.

Authorities say most of those killed were civilians, but some security personnel were among the casualties.

Opposition movements have accused the government of planting the bomb itself. This is not the first time opposition groups have accused the Syrian regime of being behind similar attacks in order to discredit opponents and influence Arab League observers.

The Arab League observers are on a mission in Syria to assess the progress of a regional peace plan. However since their arrival, activists say the government crackdown has continued, with scores of people killed.

Meanwhile, pro-democracy activists reported further violence on Friday. Since the b eginning of protests 10 months ago, anti-government protests have regularly followed traditional Friday prayers.

The opposition groups claimed nine protesters had been killed in Hama, 14 in the suburbs of Damascus, eight in Homs, three in Idlib and one in Deraa.

The Arab League observers have been in Syria since late December to monitor compliance with a peace plan under which the government promised to withdraw the military from the streets and cease its use of force against civilians.

But critics and activists say Assad is using the observer's presence as a political cover and that attacks continue despite their arrival. This week the Arab League said it was "concerned" about the Damascus blasts.

Opposition activists have urged Syrians to take to the streets in mass protests ahead of an Arab League meeting in Cairo on Sunday which will debate the initial findings of the observer mission.

The UN says more than 5,000 civilians have been killed since protests against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.