Blast hits Damascus city centre

Chaos on the streets of Damascus after a bomb detonates on a main road in the Syrian capital.

The target was not immediately clear, but the blast exploded near the former Interior Ministry building.

State-run Suriya television reported at least 13 killed and 70 injured.

The British-based Syrian Observatory said nine civilians and three security personnel had been killed, but anticipated that the death toll would rise.

Pro-government channel, al-Ikhbariya, broadcast instrumental music over images of bloody streets.

Amateur video that cannot be verified by Reuters purportedly showed smoke rising above the city caused by the bombing.

The interior minister blamed rebels, saying the attack was a response to recent gains by the Syrian army around the city centre.

He also claimed the U.S. and Israel were directing the group behind the attack, which came a day after the prime minister survived an assault on his convoy.

As the smoke cleared, some