A car bomb in the Syrian capital Damascus killed a soldier and injured 18 others, state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday, citing the defence and health ministries.
SANA quoted the defence ministry as saying the car bomb exploded near a government building. It said an army unit had earlier discovered an explosive device planted there. The bomb exploded during an attempt to defuse the device.
Syria has only just emerged from a long civil war and violence abounds.
Residents said several vehicles caught fire or were damaged. Gunfire could be heard after the explosion.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, security forces sealed off the wider area. Several young men were arrested after trying to take photographs.
Ambulances rushed to the scene immediately. Investigations to clarify the background to the bombing were launched, the rights watchdog said.
