Beirut: At least eight people were killed on Tuesday when a car bomb exploded at a police officer's club in the Syrian capital Damascus, a monitor said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said about 20 people had also been wounded, adding that policemen were among the dead and injured.
Syrian state television also reported the blast, initially saying it had hit a vegetable market in the Masaken Barzeh district in northern Damascus.
But it subsequently cited a source in the interior ministry saying a car had tried to ram into the police officer's club in the area, but was stopped by guards.
"A suicide bomber then detonated his explosives, causing deaths and injuries," state television added, citing the source, without giving further details on the toll.
Car bombs have been used regularly in Syria's war, often to devastating effect.
While the capital has been largely spared, a multiple bomb attack near the Sayyida Zeinab shrine outside the city killed at least 71 people last month.
More than 260,000 people have died in Syria's conflict since it began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.
AFP
