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Oil pipeline blown up in Syria's Homs

Xinhua, February 1, 2012

• An armed group blasted an oil pipeline Tuesday in restive Baba Amro area in central province of Homs, as part of a string of explosions targeting the energy sector in Syria, state-run SANA news agency reported.

  The blast, which occurred also near the Basatin Joubar area, set a plastic factory ablaze, the governor of Homs said in a phone call with Xinhua.

  He said that firefighters are still extinguishing the fire caused by the blast, which is the third in a series of other explosions occurred this week.

  Homs, Syria's third largest city and home to about 800,000 people, has witnessed severe clashes between troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and militia groups, allegedly comprising of Syrian army defectors.

  The region is considered one of Syria's most volatile areas, as the daily grind of violence stocked fears that the central region has slid toward a civil war.

  At least seven pipelines have been targeted since the eruption of unrest in Syria in mid March last year. Syria held what it called "saboteurs" responsible for the attacks.

  In July, 2011, fire damaged a natural gas pipeline in Deir el- Zour. Another oil pipeline was blasted in Talkhalakh area in Homs on July 29 last year.

  On Dec. 27, 2011, a gas pipeline was targeted by an explosive device planted by "terrorist groups" at the north of al-Ashrafiya village.

  On Dec. 13, 2011, Syrian government said gunmen blew up a gas pipeline in Homs, causing minor damages. A week earlier, another oil pipeline in Homs was targeted. No injuries were reported in the three attacks that hit Syria in one month.

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