Suicide blast in Damascus

A suicide bomber killed at least nine people including security officers at a Damascus mosque yesterday. Friday’s bombing was yet another blow to an unravelling UN backed ceasefire between President Bashar al-Assad and rebels who want him to cede power.

The explosion happened as worshippers were leaving the Zain al-Abideen mosque in Damascus.

The mosque was already under heavy security due to its reputation as a launchpad for anti-Assad demonstrations after Friday prayers.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. But it was close to the site of a Jan. 6 suicide bombing which was claimed by a previously unknown anti-Assad Sunni Islamist group calling itself the al-Nusra Front.

The incident came after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that the government was "in contravention" of a UN and Arab League-backed peace plan.

According to the United Nations more than 9,000 people have been killed in the 13-month-old revolt against Assad. Listen