Syria Blames Al-Qaida for Damascus Attack

At least 30 people were killed in Damascus Friday morning when two suicide car bombs were detonated outside security and intelligence buildings. SANA, Syria’s government news agency, reported that most of the fatalities were civilians. State TV also said al-Qaida militants were suspected to be behind the attacks. But opposition activists claim the government staged the bombings to influence observers from the Arab League, who arrived on Thursday. The monitors were sent to Syria to help end a months-long violent crackdown on the anti-government opposition. The U.N. estimates that 5,000 people have died in the uprising since March. Omar, a member of the Syrian opposition who asked to remain  anonymous, spoke with the BBC about why he believes Syria’s government is behind the attack. Jihad Makdissi, a spokesman for the Syrian Foreign Ministry, responds to Omar’s allegations.