Yet another bomb explodes in Damascus

As diplomats from major countries gathered to try to broker a solution to the Syrian conflict yesterday, yet another bomb went off in the heart of the capital.

The government boasted that it was continuing to pummel a rebellious suburb.

Kofi Annan, the United Nations and Arab League envoy. u00a0Pic/AFP photo

Kofi Annan, the United Nations and Arab League envoy who convened the meeting in Geneva, warned in his opening remarks that the conflict was in danger of escalating into a severe international crisis and chided global powers saying that their competing agendas had helped to fuel the violence.

Differences over whether the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, can be part of a peace settlement, have threatened to block progress.

"An international crisis of severity now looms," said Annan, highlighting "the threat of a regional spillover and a new front for the forces of international terrorism in the midst of one of the most delicately balanced and conflict-torn regions in the world."