Blasts Rock Damascus Amid Macron Visit 07/07 06:23

   Explosions rocked Damascus on Tuesday as France's president met with his 
Syrian counterpart in a landmark visit, wounding at least 18 people, Syria's 
Interior Ministry said.

   DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- Explosions rocked Damascus on Tuesday as France's 
president met with his Syrian counterpart in a landmark visit, wounding at 
least 18 people, Syria's Interior Ministry said.

   It was the second blast to rock the capital in a few days, and a setback for 
the country's new president as he welcomed his first visit from a western 
leader since ousting longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad. Syria's new rulers have 
wrestled with outbreaks of violence as they work to assert control, but the 
capital has been been largely peaceful.

   Emmanuel Macron was inside the presidential palace when the explosions 
happened. An official from the Elysee Palace said he was safe and that the 
meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa continued, speaking on condition 
of anonymity to discuss Macron's whereabouts and security.

   "Nothing can smother the aspiration of Syrian women and men to live in a 
fully sovereign, safe, pluralistic, and united Syria," Macron said in a post on 
X hours after the explosions. "This morning I met Syria in all its diversity. I 
saw dignity, courage and determination."

   A large plume of smoke could be seen from the site of the explosion near the 
Four Seasons Hotel, where Syrian media reported Macron was staying. Footage 
widely circulated on social media showed a van and a motorcycle on fire and 
blood stains on the street in the area on a busy street near the headquarters 
of the Tourism Ministry and the Damascus National Museum.

   The explosions represent a challenge to al-Sharaa, who came to power after 
leading an insurgency that ousted the Assay dynasty that ruled and Syria with 
an iron first for half a century and ended the country's 14-year 
uprising-turned-civil war.

   Al-Sharaa has since pushed to assert full control over and bring stability 
to war-torn Syria, appeal to minorities skeptical of his Islamist-led rule, and 
win the support of Western governments who were concerned about his past 
leadership of the formerly al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. His 
government has promised political and economic reform after decades of 
autocratic rule.

   Macron is the first major Western leader to visit Syria since al-Sharaa came 
to power and his visit comes before he is set to head to Ankara, Turkey later 
Tuesday for a NATO summit. Macron also plans to hold a joint news conference 
with his Syrian counterpart.

   The French head of state played a major role in pushing Europe and the 
United States to drop most sanctions on Syria. He arrived in the country Monday 
night with an economic delegation, and is scheduled to sign memorandums of 
understanding with his counterpart as the battered country tries to lure 
investors to help it rebuild after 14 years of war.

   The Interior Ministry in a statement reported by Syrian state media said 
that the two blasts in the heart of the capital were caused by explosive 
devices, one placed in a garbage bin and the other in a parked car. It added 
that four of the wounded were police officers, and no deaths were immediately 
reported.

   An investigation is currently taking place at the scene of the attack. No 
group immediately claimed responsibility.

   The incident comes days after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe 
near the Justice Palace in Damascus, killing at least 10 people and wounding 
more than 20.

   While Syria's new rulers have wrestled with violence involving different 
groups in the country as they work to assert control, the capital has largely 
been peaceful during the turbulent period.

   The conflict in Syria killed nearly half a million people and displaced 
millions. Syria's infrastructure lies in ruins, and while other nations and 
businesses have made large investment pledges, the country still needs hundreds 
of billions of dollars to rebuild and lift millions out of poverty.

   Before arriving at the presidential palace, Macron met with members of 
Syrian civil society, though his office did not give details on who.