UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council Friday strongly condemned a bombing attack in Syria, which has left at least 25 people dead and more than 60 others injured.

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack that occurred in Damascus, Syria, on Jan. 6, 2012, causing scores of deaths and injuries," said a council statement issued here.

The statement conveyed the members' deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the victims of this heinous act and to their families, and to the people of Syria.

In the statement, the Security Council also lashed out at terrorism in all its forms and manifestation, saying that "any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed."

"The members of the Security Council reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations," the statement said.

Earlier on Friday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombing in the Syrian capital, saying that "all violence is not acceptable and must stop immediately."

A suicide bomb exploded in the Al-Midan neighborhood of Damascus Friday morning, killing at least 25 people and injuring 63 others.

The bombing pointed to an escalated situation in Syria as Arab League observers are expected to issue its first assessment report Sunday in Cairo after fanning out across the country to verify whether President Bashar al-Assad has put an end to the crackdown on demonstrators.

The blast is the second deadly attack in the capital since the eruption of mass protests against President al-Assad in mid-March.

In March 2011, protestors in Syria began calling for the ouster of President al-Assad. Since then, violence has flared up from time to time between protestors and al-Assad's forces.

The suicide bombings in Syria have drawn strong condemnation from the international community which called for an end to all forms of violence in the Arab world.

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25 killed, 63 injured in suicide bombing attack in Syrian capital

DAMASCUS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The initial death toll in a suicide car bombing attack in al-Midan neighborhood in central Damascus on Friday was estimated at 25, Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported.

Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Chaar told reporters that 11 civilians and policemen were confirmed dead and a number of bodies had not been identified. He said 63 others were wounded.    Full story