Damascus blast kills five

Bomb apparently targeting restaurant in Syrian capital kills 5

A bomb that apparently targeted a restaurant in the Syrian capital killed at least five people, the state-run news agency said on Tuesday, as activists reported intense clashes between army defectors and soldiers in the restive north.

Sana, the country's main media outlet, released photographs of the bombing scene that appeared to show a heavily damaged restaurant. The agency said the blast went off late Monday in the Damascus neighbourhood of Qaboun, which has seen frequent anti-government protests.

Meanwhile, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights reported intense clashes Tuesday in Syria between troops and defectors in the towns of Atareb and Kfar Rouma.

There was no immediate word on casualties.

U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous toured the central city of Homs, the flashpoint of the uprising, on Monday and met U.N. observers in the city as well as the governor.

"The first goal is to obtain a reduction in the level of violence and this you have clearly done here in Homs," Ladsous said in a statement released on Tuesday.

"Now there is a need to establish bridges to help solve the practical functions of everyday life and gradually establish degree of confidence between the government and opposition." (AP)