Syrian TV: 14 dead, more than 40 wounded in Damascus suicide bombing that kills top preacher

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Associated Press

Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:01 PM

Updated Thursday, Mar 21 at 4:04 PM

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian TV says at least 14 people have been killed and more than 40 wounded in a suicide bomb attack inside a mosque in Damascus that also killed a top Sunni Muslim preacher and longtime supporter of President Bashar Assad.

Thursday's death of Sheikh Mohammad Said Ramadan al-Buti removes one of the few remaining pillars of support of the Alawite leader among the majority sect that has risen up against him.

The explosion occurred at a time the mosque in central Damascus would have been packed with worshippers for evening prayers.

TV footage showed wounded people and bodies with severed limbs on the blood-stained floor of the mosque.

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