DAMASCUS, 28 April 2004 — Attackers firing automatic rifles clashed with police in a diplomatic quarter of the Syrian capital yesterday, witnesses said. Syrian state media said security forces confronted a “terrorist band.”
At least one attacker was killed and another captured, according to initial reports.
Syrian television, in a brief statement, said security forces gave chase and were in control of the situation. It gave no other details. Syria’s official news agency SANA, quoting a security source, said “a terrorist band shot this evening indiscriminately in the Mazza area.” Late into the evening, smoke was seen billowing from Mazza and ambulances and police cars rushed to the area, which had been sealed off by security forces.
Witnesses, who said the violence started about 7.20 p.m. and lasted 70 minutes, gave different reports that could not immediately be reconciled.
The attackers fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a building, which was once used by the United Nations, close to Canadian, British and Iranian embassies.
