Mortar fire in Damascus kills 12, wounds 50: state media

Mortar shells slammed into central Damascus on Tuesday, hitting a technical institute in a barrage that killed 12 people and wounded 50, AFP reports according to state media.

"Twelve citizens were killed and 50 others wounded by terrorists who targeted the Shaghour neighbourhood in Damascus with four mortar shells," the SANA news agency said, adding that two shells hit the Badr al-Din al-Hussein technical institute.

The Syrian government and media use the term "terrorists" for all those seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the mortar attack, saying at least eight people were dead and dozens injured and the toll was expected to rise.

Rebel forces arrayed in positions on the outskirts of the capital regularly fire mortar shells and rockets into the heart of Damascus, often killing civilians.

Shaghour is a district in the Old City of Damascus, which has been hit by rebel fire frequently.