Thousands of Syrians have chanted "Death to America" during funeral processions in Damascus for at least 44 people killed in twin suicide bombings that rocked the capital.

Syria blamed Al Qaeda for the blasts which hit two security buildings on Friday.

The attacks came a day after an Arab League delegation arrived to prepare for monitors who will report on Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's implementation of a plan to end recent bloodshed in the country.

Mr Assad's opponents, however, said the attacks were staged by the government itself.

The funerals on Saturday turned into pro-Assad rallies in which mourners called for revenge and condemned Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani whose country, once an ally of Mr Assad, is now one of his main critics.

The crowd, carrying posters of Mr Assad and Syrian flags, chanted "We want your head, Hamad" and "We sacrifice our souls and blood for you Bashar" and "God, Syria and Bashar only".

The coffins, wrapped in Syrian flags, were lined up inside the city's historic gilded eighth century Umayyad Mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites. Many were marked "unknown".

Religious affairs minister Abdel Sattar al-Sayyed read a statement from Christian and Muslim religious leaders "denouncing the criminal attacks on Friday... and the murder, destruction and sabotage" as part of a "dangerous plot against Syria".

"We call upon the Syrian people to be aware that Syria is being targeted, and affirm that we stand with them in the face of this plot. We reject any sort of extremism represented by terrorist organisations."

Blame game
Within minutes of the Friday morning explosions, state television said initial enquiries held Al Qaeda responsible.

However, the government did not release details on how it reached such a conclusion so quickly.

Later on Friday, the opposition accused the government itself of carrying out the attacks.

Opposition umbrella group the Syrian National Council said "the Syrian regime, alone, bears all the direct responsibility for the two terrorist explosions".

The Arab League, driven to act by jitters about popular revolts that have overthrown several Arab autocrats this year, has imposed sanctions on Syria and suspended its membership of the body.

Mr Assad has sent tanks and troops to crush nine months of street protests against his rule.

The rallies are now increasingly eclipsed by an armed insurgency against his military and security apparatus.

The blasts in central Damascus on Friday


;D ;D ;D ;D ;D THEY BLOW THE POO  OUT OF EACH OTHER AND BLAME THE YANKS    ;D ;D ;D   A bit like the labor party Tony did this Tony did that    ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Syria is not alone, we all want "death to America".

Who's FUNDING Al Qaeda? The Syrians are not stupid, they know what's going on. Did the weapons grow out of the sand.

CIA=Al Qaeda. If there was no America, there would be no Al Qaeda.

It would do you good to read before posting tripe.

stevieboy wrote on Dec 25^th, 2011 at 8:58am:

Syria is not alone, we all want "death to America".

Why's that ;)

FRED. wrote on Dec 25^th, 2011 at 9:04am:

stevieboy wrote on Dec 25th, 2011 at 8:58am: Syria is not alone, we all want "death to America". Why's that ;)

WHO'S WE     and  WHO'S ALL  ?

CIA=Al Qaeda. If there was no America, there would be no Al Qaeda.

We are all those people who can put two and two together and work out who the enemy is.

stevieboy wrote on Dec 25^th, 2011 at 9:11am:

CIA=Al Qaeda. If there was no America, there would be no Al Qaeda. We are all those people who can put two and two together and work out who the enemy is.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D   YOU    ;D ;D ;D ;D

Al Qaeda take responsability for its terrorist attacks....They deny this attack along with 9/11.....Why???

:-?

I never trust people's assertions, I always judge of them by their actions.
Ann Radcliffe (1764 - 1823), The Mysteries of Udolpho, 1764

philperth2010 wrote on Dec 25^th, 2011 at 10:56am:

Al Qaeda take responsability for its terrorist attacks....They deny this attack along with 9/11.....Why??? :-? I never trust people's assertions, I always judge of them by their actions. Ann Radcliffe (1764 - 1823), The Mysteries of Udolpho, 1764

ODD really    THIS ONE seems to be internal .

9/11  Was very highly organized I mean not grass roots cell   >:(

philperth2010 wrote on Dec 25^th, 2011 at 10:56am:

Al Qaeda take responsability for its terrorist attacks....They deny this attack along with 9/11.....Why??? :-? I never trust people's assertions, I always judge of them by their actions. Ann Radcliffe (1764 - 1823), The Mysteries of Udolpho, 1764

Possibly because of the negative worldwide reaction to 9/11...

As for the Syrian one....there's enough homegrown crazies there to make it possible that Al Qaeda wasn't directly involved...(although maybe a splinter cell or minor affiliate)

stevieboy wrote on Dec 25^th, 2011 at 9:11am:

CIA=Al Qaeda. If there was no America, there would be no Al Qaeda. We are all those people who can put two and two together and work out who the enemy is.

Someone has escaped from the funny farm..... http://www.msn101.com/content/emoticons/InsaneStraightjacket_BHLSAI.gif

stevieboy wrote on Dec 25^th, 2011 at 8:58am:

Syria is not alone, we all want "death to America". Who's FUNDING Al Qaeda? The Syrians are not stupid, they know what's going on. Did the weapons grow out of the sand. CIA=Al Qaeda. If there was no America, there would be no Al Qaeda. It would do you good to read before posting tripe.

But not as good as you taking your meds before posting eh. :)

It's probable that Assad and his Ba'athist terrorists were behind the attacks. Even though Hafez al Assad was an asshole, he knew the importance of keeping the other key Arab players on side - I hope Bashar the Lion is tossed to the parents of the tortured and mutilated children when he falls.