Two Syrian ministers killed in Damascus bomb attack

Syrian top state officials, including the ministers of defense and internal affairs, were killed on Wednesday in a suicide bombing in Damascus, just hours before a crucial UN vote on the violence-plagued Middle Eastern country, RIA Novosti cites Syrian state television as saying.

The blast occurred during a meeting of ministers and security officials at the national security headquarters, state television said. The bomber was employed at President Bashar al-Assad’s personal bodyguard unit.

Defense Minister Daoud Rajha and President Bashar al-Assad’s brother-in-law, Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat, were fatally injured in the attack, Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV said.

Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar, who was also injured but said to be in a stable condition, died in hospital hours after the blast, al-Jazeera reported.

The blast also claimed the life of Hafez Makhlouf, al-Assad's cousin and head of the investigations at the Syrian Intelligence Agency.