Activists: 16 soldiers die in blast in Syria

 

At least 16 Syrian soldiers were killed Saturday after a suicide attack at a military post near the nation's capital, activists said.

The deaths came as clashes between rebels and government forces continued, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in statement.

The incident occurred Saturday morning in the suburb of Damascus, the group said.

SANA, Syria's state run news agency, did confirm that a suicide attack occurred near Damascus but did not detail the casualties.

According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have died in the Syrian conflict, which began in March 2011 when government forces cracked down on peaceful protesters.