Intensified mortar attack kills 8 in Damascus

The mortar rounds slammed several neighbourhoods on Monday in Damascus, mostly those located in the eastern and northern part of the city, Xinhua news agency quoted state news agency SANA as reporting.

Two players in the judo national team were among those killed, as one of the mortar shells slammed the al-Fayha' sports city in northern Damascus, according to the report.

Most of the wounded were taken to either the Mujtahid or the French hospitals in Damascus.

The mortar attacks come as the Syrian army and the rebels have been fighting for days in the Harasta area in northeastern Damascus after the rebels attempted to attack a military base near that area.