The terrorist attack that targeted two security service bases in the Syrian capital has drawn regional and international condemnations.

The terrorist attack that targeted two security service bases in the Syrian capital has drawn regional and international condemnations.

Regionally, Lebanon decries the bombings, with President Michel Sleiman said the incident aimed at disrupting Arab efforts to end the crisis in the crisis-ridden country.

"The attack coincides with the arrival of the advance observer team, [it] aims at disrupting the Arab solution that was agreed upon between Syria and the Arab League," Sleiman told his Syrian counterpart President Bashar Assad in a telephone call soon after the incidents, according to the president’s office.

Also in Lebanon, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour called his Syrian counterpart, Walid Mouallem, on Friday to denounce the blasts.
“In the name of the Lebanese government, we strongly condemn the inhumane criminal attack on Syria,” Mansour was quoted as telling Mouallem.

The National News Agency reported that the Lebanese minister “assured Mouallem of Lebanon’s solidarity with Syria.”

 

Iran on Saturday said it "strongly condemned" Friday attacks.

 

Iranian foreign ministry issued a statement saying: “"Doubtless instability and threats to Syria's national security, which is what its enemies are after, will not only pose a threat to Syrians but also other nations in the region."

 

Internationally, the UN Security Council has "condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks." Its statement, however, pointedly left out offering traditional condolences to the government.

US Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman said the UN chief was "gravely concerned" about the escalation and urged the government to "fully and speedily" implement the Arab League peace plan, while Britain's foreign ministry condemned the attacks and "the loss of life and injury."

For his part, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the "United States condemns in the strongest terms the bombings today in Damascus."
He also said it was crucial the attacks "not impede the critical work of the Arab League monitoring mission."

The Arab League chief also joined the chorus of condemnations. “We denounce the two terrorist attacks in Damascus. Such criminal bombings will not prevent the Arab League's observer mission from carrying out its task,” Nabil Al-Arabi said while meeting the mission's head, Sudanese General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi on Saturday as he prepared to leave for Damascus.

The United Kingdom also denounced the attacks, saying it might not undermine an Arab League plan aimed at ending the unrest.
"I condemn the bomb attacks in central Damascus today and regret the loss of life and injury I have heard reported," said Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt in a statement.

Russia, Syria’s ally, condemned the "barbaric terrorist act."

On the other hand, France accused the regime of trying "to mask the reality of the repression, notably by transferring political prisoners to secret jails".