Syrian PM survives blast targeting his convoy

DAMASCUS - Syrian Prime Minister Wael al- Halqi has escaped unharmed from a blast that targeted his convoy in Damascus earlier on Monday and killed at least eight people, pro-government al-Ekhbaria TV reported.

The explosion has targeted al-Halqi's convoy in Damascus' western neighborhood of al-Mazzeh near the Electricity Directorate and close to a park and a school, local media said, adding that many others were wounded.

One of al-Halqi's escorts is believed to have been killed in the attack, reports said, adding that big material losses were also caused to nearby buildings and cars.

The high-profile assassination attempt is the latest in a series of plots that have targeted Syrian officials and army officers.

Last December, the rebels staged a blast near the Interior Ministry in Damascus, targeting Interior Minister Let. Gen. Mohammad al-Shaar. The minister survived the attack, but sustained serious injuries before recovering in a hospital in neighboring Lebanon.

A deadly attack last July killed four Syrian officials and was considered as the harshest blow against the administration of President Bashar al-Assad. Those killed including Defense Minister Dawood Rajiha, Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat, who is Assad 's brother-in-law, and Hasan Turkmani, Assad's security adviser.