Syrian officials say twin suicide bombings in Damascus have killed at least 40 people and left 150 others injured. State television reports that two bombers used vehicles packed with explosives to attack a pair of state security facilities in the capital on Friday. The state-run SANA news agency displayed graphic photos that it said showed victims of what it called “terrorist attacks.”  The news agency also said Syrians had gathered in Damascus and several other cities to protest the bombings. Witnesses reported hearing heavy gunfire after the explosions. Syrian officials said al-Qaida militants may be responsible for the attacks. A deputy foreign minister, Faysal Mekdad, told reporters the bombings are proof of the government’s longtime claims that terrorists are behind much of the violence linked to opposition protests. “All who stand behind these criminals in Syria and defend and support these crimes are considered responsible for the terrorist acts,” he was quoted as saying. The bombings have come on the heels of the arrival of an Arab League advance delegation that is setting up an observer mission in Syria. News reports say some delegation members visited the bombing sites. Syrian opposition groups called for mass protests on Friday against the Arab League observers, who intend to monitor whether the government follows through on its promise to stop the crackdown on dissent. Opposition groups say the government is only allowing the monitors as a stalling tactic to prevent a new round of international sanctions against Syria for its crackdown on dissent. Also, activists said security forces killed at least 14 more protesters across Syria on Friday. Meanwhile, the U.S. condemned Friday’s bombings and said Syria must not allow the attacks to hamper the Arab League’s monitoring mission. Lebanon also condemned the blasts. The Syrian government has defended its harsh crackdown on pro-democracy protesters by saying it is fighting “armed terrorists,” though Friday’s bombings appear to be the first of their kind since the anti-government uprising began in March. The advance team of Arab League observers that arrived Thursday is laying the groundwork for a larger group of delegates that is set to arrive over the coming weeks. The Arab League has also been urging Syria to withdraw its security forces from neighborhoods and begin talks with the opposition. On Thursday, Syria said more than 2,000 security force members had been killed since the uprising began. The United Nations says at least 5,000 people have been killed. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.   Join the conversation on our social journalism site – Middle East Voices . Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter and discuss them on our Facebook page.

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The deeply strained relationship between Pakistan and the United States appears to have taken yet another turn for the worse, in the aftermath of what Pakistan describes as an unprovoked pre-dawn attack on its forces by NATO aircraft across the Afghan border.  At least 26 Pakistani military personnel, including two officers, were killed, and 14 others were wounded. Islamabad is strongly protesting the incident. Pakistan has blocked NATO’s supply routes that pass through its territory to Afghanistan, following what officials here describe as an aerial attack on its soldiers in the early hours of Saturday morning local time. The Pakistani military says NATO helicopters and fighter jets “carried out unprovoked firing” on two of its posts in the Mohmand tribal district bordering Afghanistan.  A military statement calls for “strong and urgent action” against thoseresponsible “for this aggression.” Washington’s ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad to explain the incident.  Munter says Washington regrets the loss of life among “any Pakistani servicemen,” and promised to work closely with Pakistan to find out what happened. Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the attack, and convened an emergency meeting of senior leaders to discuss next steps.   NATO says General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, is personally paying the “highest attention” to the matter.  Brigadier General Carsten Jacobsen is a spokesman for the force. “He’s committed to thoroughly investigate and determine the  facts.  He expresses his sincere and heartfelt personal  condolences to the families and loved ones of any member of the  Pakistan security forces  who may have been killed or injured.” The NATO force says it remains committed to improving security relations with Pakistan, including coordinating cooperation along the Afghan-Pakistan border. That border is extremely mountainous, winding, and porous to foot  traffic back and forth – posing a constant challenge for military planners on both sides.  The Taliban and other militants take advantage of the nearly 2,400-kilometer-long border to carry out attacks on U.S. and NATO forces. A similar incident happened about a year ago when international security forces accidentally killed two Pakistani soldiers.  Then, too, Pakistan temporarily choked off the route on which NATO forces have depended for supplies since they began military operations against al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. The timing of this incident may further sour the attitude of Pakistanis who already feel irritated over what they perceive as infractions against their sovereignty.  In May, U.S. Special Forces.swept into the Pakistani garrison town of Abbotabad, not far from the capital, to kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Years of unmanned U.S. drone airstrikes against Pakistan-based targets have killed both militants and civilians.

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At least three people are dead after Syrian forces renewed shelling in the Homs region on Saturday, the same day a weeklong government amnesty program took effect.   Activists say there is heavy artillery fire in regions of Homs that include the flashpoint Baba Amr district. It is the third straight day that activists have said government forces entered Homs, in an apparent crackdown on dissent. The crackdown is taking place as Syria begins an amnesty program for citizens who have sold or possessed weapons. Under the amnesty, citizens who have not committed murder will be released soon after they turn themselves in to police and hand over their weapons. Shortly after the interior ministry announced the program Friday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland advised Syrians not to turn themselves in to authorities. On Saturday, the Syrian government condemned Nuland’s comments as “irresponsible” and accused her of supporting “armed groups” who were carrying out acts of violence against civilians. In a Friday briefing, Nuland also questioned the Syrian government’s commitment to an Arab League plan brokered on Wednesday that calls for a halt to violence and talks between the government and the opposition. France also voiced skepticism about Syria’s commitment to the plan. On Friday, activists said security forces killed at least 19 people as anti-government protesters rallied across the country. Activists blamed pro-government forces for at least 12 deaths in Homs on Thursday. The United Nations says the number of people killed during the eight-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad has topped 3,000. The Syrian government has blamed much of the unrest on “terrorists” and gunmen. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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