Report of 'casualties' in Syria school blast

There has been an explosion near a school in the Syrian capital, Damascus, state-run TV said today.

The report said the blast struck in the western neighbourhood of Mazzeh. The state-run news agency said there are casualties.

Damascus has been hit by a string of explosions in recent months which has left hundreds of people dead or wounded.

The Syrian government asid Muslim extremists trying to overthrow President Bashar Assad are to blame for the attacks.

Syria’s conflict started with largely peaceful protests against the Assad regime in March 2011 but eventually turned into civil war.

The United Nations says that more than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far.