Four killed in Syria mortar attack

At least four people were killed and over 20 others wounded Wednesday when rebels fire mortar shells into central Damascus during the inauguration ceremony of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's third term in office.

The four people were killed when mortars exploded at Damascus's popular marketplace of Shalaan and nearby streets, Xinhua reported citing local media.

Several other mortar shells rained down in residential areas in Damascus just as the president was delivering his inauguration speech, in which he emphasised that the fight against terrorism will continue during his third seven-year term.

The rebels apparently shelled the capital with a fresh round of mortars to undermine the president's speech.

Assad has maintained his administration's policy that entailed countering terrorism and at the same time supporting the efforts of national reconciliation and reconstruction.