ALEPPO, Syria: The Syrian government and opposition have blamed each other for two car bombs that struck security compounds in Aleppo, killing 28 people.

The suicide bombings on Friday brought significant violence to an industrial centre that has largely stood by the President, Bashar al-Assad. Anti-Assad activists denied involvement and accused the regime of setting off the blasts to smear the opposition as government forces pummel rebels in one of their main strongholds, Homs, where hundreds of people have reportedly been killed in the past week.

State media touted the bombings as proof the regime faces a campaign by terrorists, not a popular uprising.

Troops and security forces opened fire on anti-regime protesters who streamed out of mosques after Friday prayers nationwide. At least 27 civilians were killed, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The blasts in Aleppo targeted the local headquarters of the Military Intelligence Directorate and a Security Preservation forces barracks.

Associated Press