Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Explosions in Damascus

Images from Syrian State TV of this morning's explosions in Damascus

See also Friday's Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Anticipating Today's Protests

---

1800 GMT: As confirmation comes through of the arrest of the former head of intelligence of Libya's Qaddafi regime, there is a scramble over who will try him on criminal charges.

Mauritanian authorities arrested Abdullah al-Senussi, as he arrived on an overnight flight from the Moroccan city of Casablanca (see 1125 GMT).

Al-Senussi has been sought by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity. However, Libya's National Transitional Council want to put him on trial, and France is also seeking his extradition, citing his alleged role in the 1989 bombing of an airliner over Niger in which 54 French nationals died.

1745 GMT: Five Syrian opposition groups on Saturday have announced the formation of a new coalition, declaring they will act independently of the Syrian National Council (SNC), which has presented itself as the main organisation challenging the Assad regime.

The new group is made up of the liberal National Movement for Change; the Islamist Movement for the Fatherland; the Bloc for Liberation and Development, led by Nawaf al-Bashir, a tribal chief; the Turkmen National Bloc; and the Kurdish Movement for a New Life.

Ammar al-Qurabi, the leader of the National Movement for Change, said the "coalition was not set up in opposition to anyone, other than Assad's regime, but rather to unite the opposition outside the SNC".

1556 GMT: Human Rights Watch has called on Kuwaiti authorities to end the suspension of the daily newspaper Al Dar and void the conviction of its editor Abd al-Hussain al-Sultan for alleged incitement.

On Monday, a criminal court suspended the newspaper for three months and sentenced al-Sultan to a six-month suspended jail term and a fine of 1,000 Kuwaiti Dinars (US$3,500) for allegedly publishing articles that “raise sectarian strife".

Al Dar published three articles in late January that claimed news agencies and writers, in articles and social media, had targeted and insulted the Shia minority in Kuwait.

1554 GMT: A protest in the Aleppo Road section of Hama today:

1314 GMT: A protest rally in Harak in Daraa Province in southern Syria today:

1136 GMT: Despite attacks by Syrian security forces (see 1115 GMT), massive protests continue in Raqqa:

And a rally in Kafar Naboodeh in Hama Province:

1125 GMT: Mauritanian security officials say the intelligence chief of former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi has been arrested.

Abdullah al-Senussi, 63 was detained at Nouakchott airport as he arrived on a flight from the Moroccan city of Casablanca. He was carrying a false Malian passport.

Al-Senussi fled Libya when Gaddafi was ousted and killed last autumn. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

1115 GMT: Syrian security forces reportedly fired on a funeral procession in Raqqa this morning --- video of the aftermath, including casualties:

1105 GMT: Demotix has posted a series of photographs of the aftermath of the Damascus explosions:

1005 GMT: Syrian State media says ""scores" of civilians and security personnel" have been killed in the two bombs in Damascus this morning, near the Criminal Police Force Headquarters and the Air Security Directorate.

At least 27 people were killed and 97 were wounded, one TV channel said, quoting Health Minister Wael al-Halki.

0945 GMT: The Bahraini Government has sent Parliament a draft law setting restrictions on political societies.

They include separation of religion from activities, the prohibition of any activity likely to harm the economy or Bahrain's interests, a ban on sectarian issues, and disclosure of the financial status of leaders of societies and funding sources.

Another draft law proposes that cases of torture or inhuman treatment should be handled by the Public Prosecution and ordinary courts, rather than military tribunals.

A demonstration last night in Alkawara in Bahrain, marking the anniversary of the entry of Saudi forces into the kingdom to help the regime crack down on protests:

0815 GMT: Thousands of Libyan protesters in Benghazi, calling for an autonomous region, were attacked on Friday by men wielding rifles and knifes. One person was killed.

The assailants also reportedly attacked an office of a local television station to prevent it from broadcasting the demonstration.

Benghazi militia, who are responsible for security in the city, deployed forces and chased the attackers, witnesses said.

0800 GMT: The Syrian news agency SANA has now posted graphic photos of bodies and body parts from this morning's two explosions in Damascus.

0725 GMT: A mass protest on Friday, with the burning of the image of Syrian President Assad:

0720 GMT: Claimed footage of a Free Syrian Army on regime forces in Khan Sheikhoun in northwest Syria:

0700 GMT: We begin Saturday with the news of two explosions in the Syrian capital Damascus. Residents said one of the blasts occurred near the Air Force Intelligence building and another near a major hotel.

State TV said the explosions were due to "two booby-trappped cars", one at Customs Square and one at the zone linking Baghdad Street to the al-Qasaa' Quarter. It said police and civilians were among the dead, but gave no numbers.