A bomb in central Damascus killed 13 people on Tuesday (April 30), state television said, a day after Prime Minister Wael al-Halki survived an attack on his convoy in the heart of the Syrian capital.

State television said 70 people were wounded, several critically. The British-based Syrian Observatory reported 9 dead civilians and 3 security men and said the death toll was likely to rise.

In the immediate aftermath of the bombing Syrian State TV showed footage of fire-fighters arriving at a chaotic scene with a dead body lying on the ground, extensively damaged buildings amongst smoke and entire streets of abandoned damaged cars.

The target of the attack was not immediately clear.

It is reported that the former Interior Ministry building is near the site of the blast on one of the capital's main roads.

Monday's attack on the prime minister's convoy killed six people in what has become an increasingly common tactic used by rebels.

Rebels have increased their attacks on Damascus, which include mortar fire from the contested suburbs, in a civil war that has cost more than 70,000 lives according to U.N. estimates. A bomb in July killed four of President Bashar al-Assad's aides, including his brother-in-law Assef Shawkat and the defence minister.

Presented by Adam Justice