Syria: Explosion Near Convoy Carrying Head Of UN Mission

Explosion Near UN Mission Chief In Syria

Syria was rocked by a large explosion on Sunday just 500 feet from a convoy carrying Major General Robert Mood – the head of the UN Mission there – and members of the media.

The blast occurred at an army checkpoint in the Douma district of Damascus.

It is the second time in a matter of weeks that Norwegian Mood has found himself close to an explosion.

Recently near the city of Deraa a military truck escorting his convoy was also targeted, exploding just seconds after his team of UN observers went past.

So far there have been no reports of casualties in the Douma incident but journalists being transported in the convoy say the front of a Toyota pick-up was blown off, according to a report by BBC News.

News agency AP is reporting that a roadside bomb caused the explosion, but due to restrictions placed on journalists, confirming details has not been possible.

Major Gen Robert Mood, right, inspects with Syrians the site of twin blasts in Damascus on May 10

The uprising against Syria’s leader, President Bashar al-Assad, began in March 2011 and the district of Douma was one of the first to turn against him.

There are currently nearly 300 UN unarmed observers in Syria.

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