Damascus: Syria’s defence minister Daoud Rajiha has been killed in a suicide bomb attack in Rawda district in the heart of Damascus here Wednesday.

According to preliminary reports, the suicide bomber targeted a meeting of security officials at National Security building.

The casualty is considered to be a major blow to Bashar-al-Assad regime since the uprising began about 16 months ago.

Some other high officials are also said to be critically wounded in the suicide bombing.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in the uprising, inspired by Arab spring, since it began in March last year as al-Assad forces carried out deadly crackdown on pro-democracy worker.

Source