At least four mortar shells struck the mainly Shiite district of Shaghour in central Damascus on Tuesday, killing 12 people and wounding 50 others, state media reported.
"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.
Two shells hit the Badr al-Din al-Hussein technical institute, the agency reported.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the mortar attack, saying at least eight people were dead and dozens injured and that 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, which has frequently been hit by rebel fire.
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