Publish Date: 7 January 2012 - 11:40

TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the Syrian capital Damascus.

The Iranian official also sent a message of sympathy to the families of those who were killed or wounded in the brazen blast.

On Friday a suicide bomber killed about 26 people and wounded 63 in Damascus, Syria's news agency SANA reported.

It was the second suicide attack in as many weeks.

Mehmanparast said that the blasts are aimed at provoking civil war in Syria, disintegrating the country, and forcing Damascus to surrender to ‘American-Zionist” whims.

However, he said that the Syrian government and nation will undoubtedly keep “their solidarity, awareness, and dignity” and “disappoint the enemies”.

Syrian Interior Minister Mohammed Shaar said the suicide bomber "detonated himself with the aim of killing the largest number of people." Shaar also said the blast had the "fingerprints of al-Qaeda".

"We will strike with an iron fist all those who undermine the security of the nation," the interior ministry said in a statement, according to AFP.

On December 23 at least 44 people were killed in two suicide bombings that targeted security buildings in Damascus.

MHZ/PA
END
MNA