Iran: Enemy Threats Will not Intimidate Syrians

Syria's principal ally, Iran, on Saturday said it "strongly condemned" attacks by suicide bombers in Damascus on Friday that reportedly killed more than 40 people.

The Iranian foreign ministry issued a statement, quoted by the state IRNA news agency, condemning the blasts and offering condolences to the victims' families.

The statement added: "Doubtless instability and threats to Syria's national security, which is what its enemies are after, will not only pose a threat to Syrians but also other nations in the region."

Friday's attacks in Damascus hit two bases belonging to the Syrian security service, which has been cracking down on pro-democracy protesters since March.

Syrian state media blamed the attacks on al-Qaida. But the opposition said they were staged by the regime to show it was threatened by external forces, not by a popular uprising.