Assad planes bomb gas station near Damascus, 30 killed

At least 30 civilians were killed on Wednesday when Syrian warplanes bombed a petrol station in a rebellious suburb on the eastern edge of Damascus, two opposition campaigners on the scene said.

"I counted at least 30 bodies. They were either burnt or dismembered," said Abu Saeed, an activist who arrived at the area in the Muleiha suburb of Damascus an hour after the raid occurred at 1pm .

Another activist, Abu Fouad, said warplanes had bombarded the area as a consignment of fuel arrived and crowds packed the station.

Video footage taken by activists, which could not be independently verified, showed a body of a man a helmet on a motorcycle amid flames that had engulfed the site, apparently hit while in a line of vehicles waiting for petrol. A man was also shown carrying a dismembered body.

Muleiha is a Sunni Muslim suburbs that has been at the forefront of the revolt against President Assad.

US journalist kidnapped

Paris: A freelance American reporter was kidnapped in conflict-torn Syria six weeks back and has been missing since, his family said Wednesday. James Foley, 39, an experienced war reporter, was seized by armed men in the northern province of Idlib on November 22, according to witnesses. Foley was picked up in the town of Taftanaz by four men who later released his driver and translator, the witnesses said. He was travelling with another journalist who has also been reported missing. No group has claimed responsibility. PTI

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