20 soldiers killed in Syria blasts

A Syrian family is seen after crossing from the northern Syrian town of Ras al-Ain to Turkey in the border town of Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province on Saturday.

At least 20 soldiers have been killed in twin explosions in the southern Syrian city of Deraa, activists report.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two cars packed with explosives detonated at a military camp there, killing and wounding “dozens”.

Syrian state media said the two car bombs resulted in “victims and material damage”, but did not give details.

Meanwhile Syrian opposition groups are continuing negotiations in Doha about a possible merger.

One of the biggest groups, the Syrian National Council (SNC), has yet to decide whether it will join a proposed unified group, provisionally called the Syrian National Initiative.

On Friday the SNC elected its new leader, a Christian and former Communist George Sabra.

Following his appointment, Sabra called on the international community to provide rebel fighters with weapons.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombings in Deraa, but car bombs targeting military targets have become a regular tactic of the various rebel groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad’s army.

Source: The Daily Star