Five killed in Syria car bomb explosion

At least five people were killed and 15 others wounded when a car bomb went off Tuesday in the countryside near the Syrian capital Damascus, Xinhua reported citing the pro-government Sama TV.

According to the report, the blast ripped through Nisreen Street in Al Tadamun area in the eastern countryside of Damascus.

While the TV channel speculated that the blast was caused by a suicide car bomber, an eyewitness told Xinhua by phone that the blast was triggered by an explosive device that was fixed under a car in that area.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the area after the blast, the witness said.

Al Tadamun has emerged as a battlefield for sporadic fighting between the rebels and the government forces in Syria's two-and-half-year old crisis.