Double bomb blast kills 34 in Damascus

The explosions thought to have been carried out by Islamic militants - hit the Christian suburb of Jaramana, known to be loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, injuring another 83 people.

The attacks highlight the increasing presence of Islamists in the disparate forces seeking to topple the Assad regime.

A new anti-Assad coalition was cobbled together at the behest of the US earlier this month to try to freeze out al-Qaida-linked forces that the West fears are having too much influence on the opposition.

The coalition - which has been recognised by a number of Gulf and some Western states - was formed to ease the flow of weapons to the rebels.

A bomb was let off in a car park as workers arrived at a commercial district then a second explosion struck those who rushed to help the injured.

Damascus suburbs have been repeatedly targeted by suicide bombers who consider the area the seat of President Assad's power base.

Teacher Ibtissam Nseir said she did not understand why the area had been hit as there were no soldiers around.

"Is this the freedom which they want? Syria is a secure country and it will remain so," she said.

Fighting continued to rage around the country today, with rebels claiming to have shot down a government fighter plane near rebel-held town Daret Azzeh.

Rebels have often claimed to have downed military aircraft and have recently captured a number of airfields where they would have access to anti-aircraft guns.

The military, meanwhile, has stepped up its aerial attacks on Syrian rebels to roll back their gains.

Peaceful pro-democracy protests quickly descended into a 20-month civil war that President Assad blames on foreign terrorists backed by the West and his opponents in the region.