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Syria: Terror attack failed its attempt

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-13 06:51

Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdul Majid said on Tuesday that the terrorist operation targeting the U.S. embassy in Damascus failed to achieve any of the aims, the official SANA news agency reported.

In an official response to the attacks, Majid praised the role of anti-terror forces in thwarting the attack and their alertness to protect the nation and citizens.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the two cars used in this incidents were stolen, the minister said, adding that investigations are still underway.

Majid said that the scene of the terrorist operation is a public street that any car can use or stop for moments, a thing exploited by the terrorist group.

The attack occurred at about 10:05 a.m. (0705 GMT) and intense gunfire were heard in a following gunbattle.

The district, where many foreign missions, vital security installations, and houses of most senior Syrian government officials are located, has been sealed off by security guards.

According to the official SANA news agency, a terrorist group of four gunmen launched the attack using hand grenades and machine guns.

Syrian anti-terror forces exchanged fire with the attackers, killing three of them and wounding the fourth, SANA said.

A senior Chinese diplomat, Political Counsellor Li Hongyu, 41, was slightly injured by a flying shrapnel while he was standing on top of a garage within the Chinese embassy compound, which is located very close to the U.S. embassy.

At least 10 people, including the senior Chinese diplomat, were also injured in this terrorist operation.