Explosion on Syrian oil pipeline near restive city - Houston Chronicle

Explosion on Syrian oil pipeline near restive city - Houston Chronicle

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BEIRUT (AP) — A major Syrian pipeline carrying oil to a refinery in the restive Homs province was blown up on Thursday, activists and the state-run news agency said, as violence stemming from the country's 9-month-old uprising spirals out of control.

No casualties were reported and it was not clear who was behind Thursday's explosion.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the pipeline was "bombed," while the state-run news agency SANA blamed terrorists.

"An armed terrorist group on Thursday committed an act of sabotage," SANA said.

A government official said the blast caused a fire that has been burning for four hours. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

There were two similar blasts on Syrian pipelines in July, with no injuries.

Nomair Makhlouf, the general director of the Syrian Oil Company, said the pipeline serves Syria's domestic requirements and carries 140,000 barrels a day.

Thursday's reports could not be independently confirmed. Syria has banned most foreign journalists and prevented independent reporting. [ read more at link]