In an exclusive interview with al-Alam on Tuesday, the retired Syrian army officer Turki Hassan said, “The Monday explosion (April 8, 2013) in Sabaa Bahrat Square in the center of Damascus led to the death of a number of innocent Syrian citizens which shows that the armed groups recklessly seek to kill people.”

“The Saudi al-Arabia Channel reported a blast in the center of Damascus before the actual explosion which reveals foreign sides’ hands in explosions and clashes in Syria,” Hassan added.

Monday’s explosion in Damascus took place in a residential area which resulted in the death of at least 25 people including several children and more than 80 other were wounded. Some buildings including a school also received damages due to the blast.

“The Syrian army continues to advance in various parts of the country including Ghouta, Barza, and Dariya. It tightens the siege around armed groups day by day in order to wither the roots of terrorism,” the Syrian military expert noted.

“The army regained the strategic area of al-Aziza from armed groups. This area is located between the international airport and the city of Aleppo. In this way, the army can re-open the route between Aleppo and the international airport” Hassan emphasized.

Stressing that it is necessary to stop violence in Syria, he said “the regime has provided opportunities to end violence. Issuing the order to pardon and free detained armed people was among these opportunities. Those armed individuals who put down their weapons will be granted remission.”

The Syrian military expert went on to say that “violence will yield no results but death of people and destruction of the country. Therefore, negotiations to find peaceful adaptive solutions must begin as soon as possible.”

“What is going on in Syria is not a revolution. Changes in the country should not be termed as popular revolution” Hassan stressed.

“President Bashar al-Assad’s proposal regarding peaceful solution to the crisis is in line with the Geneva declaration,” he restated.