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Tuesday, Apr 24, 2012 9:45 AM UTC

Syrian group says 3 intelligence officers killed

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Syrian group says 3 intelligence officers killedIn this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, a UN observer, left, speaks with Syrian citizens during their visit to the pro-Syrian regime neighborhoods, in Homs province, central Syria, on Monday April 23, 2012. United Nations observers monitoring Syria's shaky cease-fire visited a string of rebellious Damascus suburbs Monday, while the European Union looked set to levy new sanctions to increase the pressure on President Bashar Assad's regime. (AP Photo/SANA)(Credit: AP)

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian activists said three intelligence officers were killed in Damascus on Tuesday while a separate bomb blast downtown injured three in the latest attacks on regime targets as the country’s 13-month conflict grows increasingly militarized

The attacks took place as a U.N. team observing Syria’s violence-ridden truce was visiting another area near the capital, the restive suburb of Douma. Activists and amateur videos reported shelling and gunfire in that area Tuesday, just a day after 55 people were killed across Syria — most of them in a city the observers had recently visited.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the three officers were killed early Tuesday in the Barzeh neighborhood but gave no further information.

Separately, an army truck blew up as it was driving through downtown Damascus. The blast in Marjah Square near the Iranian Cultural Center left blood and shattered glass on the road. The truck’s driver and two passengers in a nearby car were injured and taken to a hospital.

Security officials at the scene said the truck driver did not appear to be implicated in the blast, suggesting the explosives had been planted on the vehicle. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The Syrian government did not immediately comment on the attacks.

Rebels seeking to topple President Bashar Assad have ramped up attacks on military targets and security officers, some of whom have been killed in their cars on the way to work.

The U.N. says more than 9,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests calling for political reforms. The government brutally cracked down, deploying troops, snipers and pro-government thugs to quash dissent, while many in the opposition have armed themselves for protection.

The international community remains divided on how to stop the conflict, with the U.S. and many Western nations calling for Assad to leave power while Russia and China have stood by Damascus.

All, however, have endorsed a six-point plan by envoy Kofi Annan that calls for a cease-fire to allow for talks between all sides on a political solution to the conflict.

Despite broad backing, the plan has been deeply troubled since the cease-fire was to go into effect on April 12. The Syrian government has not withdrawn its troops from populated areas or allowed media access and its troops have shelled opposition areas. Armed rebels, too, have continued to attack military convoys and checkpoints.

The regime cites such attacks in arguing that the uprising is the work of armed terrorists acting out a foreign conspiracy to weaken the country.

An 11-person monitoring team is currently in Syria to observe the cease-fire and prepare for a total team of 300 monitors to arrive later. But some areas that have welcomed the team with anti-government demonstrations have faced apparent retribution from the regime.

On Monday, more than 30 people were killed in the central city of Hama, just one day after the monitoring team visited the city.

One amateur video posted online showed blood in the streets. Another showed 15 bodies laid out in rows and wrapped in white cloth. The Observatory said 55 people were killed across Syria on Monday.

Syria’s state news agency said U.N. observers were visiting the restive suburb of Douma Tuesday, their second visit in two days.

A Douma activist, Mohammed Saeed, said via Skype that he had heard the observers arrived but had no information on their visit.

“The news here is very bad,” he said. “There are tanks and shelling and gunfire and the army has prevented fire engines from entering the city,” he said.

Amateur videos posted online Tuesday showed an explosion in the area and smoke rising into the sky as well as men and young boys dashing for cover as gunfire is heard nearby.

___

Associated Press writer Albert Aji contributed reporting from Damascus, Syria.

More Ben Hubbard.

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