EU Slams Damascus Blasts as 'Act of Pure Terrorism'

The European Union sharply condemned Thursday's two powerful blasts in Damascus, describing the attacks as "an act of pure terrorism."

"We strongly condemn the twin bomb attacks," said Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

He said the morning blasts that killed some 55 people and injured almost 400 appeared to be "an act of pure terrorism from what we see initially."

The attacks came a day after the Norwegian general commanding U.N. ceasefire observers escaped unharmed when a roadside bomb exploded as he led a team into the flashpoint southern city of Daraa.

Mann said the rising number of bomb attacks and continued violations of a ceasefire made a plan brokered by U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan "all the more difficult but all the more important."

"We urge everybody to fall in behind the Annan plan," he said.