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Twin Bombs Kill 14 in Syrian Capital

A Free Syrian Army fighter carries his weapon as he walks amongst rubble near Nairab military airport in Aleppo, Syria, June 12, 2013.
1/10 A Free Syrian Army fighter carries his weapon as he walks amongst rubble near Nairab military airport in Aleppo, Syria, June 12, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
A Free Syrian Army fighter runs for cover near Nairab military airport in Aleppo, Syria, June 12, 2013.
2/10 A Free Syrian Army fighter runs for cover near Nairab military airport in Aleppo, Syria, June 12, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
A still from amateur video provided by Ugarit News, shows Syrian rebels during a raid on Hatla, Syria, June 12, 2013.
3/10 A still from amateur video provided by Ugarit News, shows Syrian rebels during a raid on Hatla, Syria, June 12, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
This citizen journalism image provided by ENN shows a Syrian rebel in a trench, in Idlib province, northern Syria, June 12, 2013.
4/10 This citizen journalism image provided by ENN shows a Syrian rebel in a trench, in Idlib province, northern Syria, June 12, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
This SANA photo shows the destruction after bombs exploded in al-Marjeh Square in Damascus, June 11, 2013.
5/10 This SANA photo shows the destruction after bombs exploded in al-Marjeh Square in Damascus, June 11, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
This SANA photo shows medics helping a man who was wounded when bombs exploded in al-Marjeh Square in Damascus, June 11, 2013.
6/10 This SANA photo shows medics helping a man who was wounded when bombs exploded in al-Marjeh Square in Damascus, June 11, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
This SANA photo shows the destruction after bombs exploded in al-Marjeh Square in Damascus, June 11, 2013.
7/10 This SANA photo shows the destruction after bombs exploded in al-Marjeh Square in Damascus, June 11, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
People run for cover after what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Raqqa province, eastern Syria, June 10, 2013.
8/10 People run for cover after what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Raqqa province, eastern Syria, June 10, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
A man stands on a damaged street filled with debris in Raqqa province, eastern Syria, June 10, 2013.
9/10 A man stands on a damaged street filled with debris in Raqqa province, eastern Syria, June 10, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
Residents walk near a damaged church in Qusair, Syria, June 8, 2013.
10/10 Residents walk near a damaged church in Qusair, Syria, June 8, 2013.
The United Nations says nearly 93,000 people have been confirmed killed in Syria's war, although it warns the actual figure is probably much higher.
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Two suicide bombers struck al-Marjeh Square in the Syrian capital Tuesday, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens more in the second major attack on the square since the end of April.

The blasts blew off doors and shattered plate glass windows, propelling shrapnel into the air as people headed to work during morning rush hour. Chunks of concrete fell from buildings, and vehicles were crumpled by the force of the explosions.

A young man who ran into a nearby shop described hearing the sound of two bullets just before nine in the morning. He said he inside a shop out of fear just before being shaken by two explosions about 20 seconds apart. Women, children and other innocent bystanders were hurt in the blasts, he said.

Al-Marjeh Square in Damascus, Syria
Al-Marjeh Square in Damascus, Syria
Witnesses and Syrian state media said two suicide bombers blew themselves up near a police station.

A shopkeeper said the bombers arrived at the precinct and one fired at the guard at the door, then blew himself up, while the other blew himself up after that. It was a terrorist attack, he said. "The victims were civilian and we lost friends in the blast. It was an evil act."

A doctor at a nearby hospital which treated many of the bomb victims said 28 victims were brought to his hospital, suffering various injuries, including shrapnel wounds to the legs, head, stomach and chest.

The bombings could be a response to the recent government offensive in other parts of the country, said analyst James Denselow.

"If you're the opposition, you have every interest to want to show that [you] are still able to fight back against the regime, and I think car bombs in Damascus are a kind of similar message that they are able to strike inside the most secure areas of the country and that the picture of the regime storming everything in its path is simply not true," he said.

Syrian government forces are reported to be mounting an offensive against rebel-held districts of Aleppo, the country's commercial hub. More than half the city has been under rebel control since July of 2012.
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