Syrian rebels claim Damascus blasts

Smoke rises in the Syrian capital Damascus after two explosions ripped through a top Syrian military command building.

This amateur footage purports to show the damage after the blasts struck at 7am on Wednesday.

Reuters can't independently verify it due to Syrian government media restrictions.

The Free Syrian Army who claimed responsibility for the strike said the blasts killed dozens of people.

But an armed forces statement said military leaders were unhurt and that a number of guards were wounded in the attack.

Syrian state TV broadcast an army statement that blamed the attack on "armed terrorists linked to foreigners".

While covering the blasts a correspondent for Iran's English-language Press TV was shot dead and its bureau chief was wounded.

Activists say more than 27,000 people have been killed in the 18 month old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, including over 20 journalists..