Two explosions were heard in the Syrian capital on Tuesday as French President Emmanuel Macron was on his way to meet Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara at the People's Palace.
Four police officers were among 18 injured in the blast, Syrian state media said.
An eyewitness saw two explosions, one near the Victoria flyover and one near the Ministry of Tourism. "Ambulances took wounded to the hospital and there is blood on the streets," the witness told The National. The explosions took place near the Four Seasons Hotel where Mr Macron was staying.
Mr Macron was seen with the Syrian president just after the attack took place. A Syrian security source told The National that the French president was not near the explosion.
The Elysee said Mr Macron had not heard the blasts and confirmed the president is well and safe. "The programme continues," a source close to the president said.
The two leaders held meetings with their delegations.
Roads were sealed off and security measures were implemented after the blast. Syria's Ministry of Interior confirmed that the explosion had taken place outside the security perimeter designated for the French president's stay.
The blasts came days after 10 were killed in a suspected terrorist attack. No group claimed responsibility for either attack.
Mr Macron is the first Western leader to visit Damascus since Syrian President Bashar Al Assad was toppled 18 months ago. He is holding political and business talks with his Syrian counterpart.
Ahead of the visit, Mr Macron said that he hopes the visit will enhance Syria’s stability and peace with its neighbours and stressed the need to maintain the country’s diversity. Several thousand members of the country’s Alawite and Druze minorities were killed in two government campaigns against areas on the coast and southern Syria last year.
