Syria: Aleppo Bomb Blasts Hit Assad's Security Base

Two explosions rocked the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, causing a number of casualties, the state-run news agency Sana reported.

Soldiers and civilians were killed in the blasts, which targeted a branch of military intelligence and a security force base.

A weeping television presenter on state-run TV showed graphic footage of at least five corpses, saying the blasts went off near a public garden where children had been playing. Debris filled the street and residential buildings appeared to have their windows shattered.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said residents had reported three explosions and said they had heard gunfire.

The blasts were the first in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and a main commercial hub, which has remained relatively quiet since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March.

It is unclear who was responsible for the explosions, though state television blamed terrorists.

Residents in the besieged city of Homs said the security forces assault's on the town continues unabated, with bombs dropping every five minutes.

More than 50 people were reported killed in Homs and a further 33 across Syria on 9 February.