Damascus, May 11: Residents in the Syrian capital, Damascus, began the long task of clearing up their wrecked homes and streets on Friday, a day after two suicide car bombs ripped through the city.
The blasts killed 55 people and tore the facade off a military intelligence building, in the deadliest explosions since the country's uprising began 14 months ago, the Interior Ministry said.
The death toll is likely to rise, with 15 bags of human remains recovered so far, the ministry said.
According to eyewitnesses, the blasts happened in quick succession during morning rush hour, with an initial small explosion followed by a larger bomb that appeared aimed at onlookers and rescue crews arriving at the scene.
There was no claim of responsibility for Thursday's blasts.
Near the military compound, the headquarters for a military intelligence department known as the Palestine Branch, many buildings showed severe damage from the blasts.
Mosques in the neighbourhood were full during Friday prayers.
More than 370 people were wounded in the attack, according to the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the country's internal security.
It said the explosives weighed more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds).
The explosions left two craters at the gate of the military compound, one of them 3 meters (10 feet) deep and 6 meters (20 feet) wide.
Central Damascus is under the tight control of forces loyal to President Bashar Assad but has been struck by several bomb attacks, often targeting security installations or convoys, since the revolt against him began in March 2011.
But the previous attacks happened on a weekend and the death tolls were lower.
Thursday's attacks were similar to those waged by al-Qaida in Iraq, which would bolster past allegations by top US intelligence officials that the terror network from the neighbouring country was the likely culprit behind previous bombings in Syria.
That raises the possibility that its fighters are infiltrating across the border to take advantage of the political turmoil.
The Syrian government blames the bombings on those it says are behind the uprising, which has been the most potent challenge to the Assad family dynasty in Syria in four decades.
But opposition leaders and activists routinely blame the regime for orchestrating the attacks, saying they help it demonise the opposition and maintain support among those who fear greater instability.
The relentless violence in the country has brought a cease-fire plan brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan to the brink of collapse.
The UN said weeks ago that more than 9,000 people had been killed.
Hundreds more have died since as the conflict has become increasingly militarised, with protesters taking up arms or joining forces with army defectors to fight a brutal crackdown by regime forces.
