42 die in Syria attacks (Lead)

Damascus Feb 25 (IANS) At least 42 persons were killed as six suicide bombers detonated themselves at two security headquarters in Syria s central province of Homs on Saturday a monitor group said.

Three of the suicide bombers blew themselves up in al-Ghouta area and the other three in Mahata Xinhua news agency reported.

The suicide attacks were coupled with clashes in the areas.

Homs Governor Talal Barazi said most of the dead were security personnel.

He said Colonel Sharaf Hasan Daboul the head of military intelligence branch in Homs and Colonel Darwish the chief of state security branch were also killed.

Barazi said the death toll was over 30 and 34 persons were injured. But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said 42 persons were killed in the ghastly attacks.

It is the first deadly bombing in a while in Homs as the Syrian Army took control of the city with efforts ongoing to dislodge rebels from the countryside of that key province.

The Governor said the bombings came in retaliation to the victories of the Syrian Army on ground and the political victories the Syrian delegation to the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva were making.

Meanwhile the state TV said Al Qaeda linked Nusra Front claimed responsibility of the bombings.

The Nusra Front was excluded along with the Islamic State (IS) group from a recent nationwide ceasefire that went into force in Syria on December 30.

--IANS
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