Coordinated Terrorist Bombings In Syrian Capital Condemned

(Newsroom America) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the string of coordinated terrorist bombings in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday night that resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.

Two simultaneous suicide bombings reportedly killed dozens of people at a Syrian air force intelligence complex in Harasta, northeast of Damascus. One of the suicide bombers was reportedly driving an ambulance packed with explosives.

“The Secretary-General is extremely concerned that the spiral of violence in Syria is creating a fertile ground for terrorism and criminal actions of all kinds,” his spokesperson said in a statement, adding that Mr. Ban is also concerned about the fate of detainees reportedly held at the facility where the bombings occurred.

He said resorting to violence and military means will only lead to more suffering and destruction, and that the only way out is through a political solution.

More than 20,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in Syria since the uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad began last year. A further 2.5 million Syrians urgently need humanitarian aid, according to UN estimates.

Mr. Ban urged all sides to move toward a political transition and work closely with the Joint Special Representative of the UN and the League of Arab States, Lakhdar Brahimi, who has been talking to Syrian officials and regional leaders on possible solutions to the conflict.