DAMASCUS: Two powerful explosions that struck Damascus on Thursday were carried out by suicide bombers and killed at least 55 people while wounding another 372, Syria's interior ministry said.

The bombers used more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of explosives in their vehicles, the ministry said, cited by state television.

Previously, state media said the blasts killed 40 people and injured nearly 200, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said the toll was 50 dead. AFP