DHAKA: At least 46 people have been killed in a double car bombing in the Syrian city of Homs, a monitoring group has said.

Most of the dead appear to be civilians, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reports the BBC.

Syrian state media gave a toll of at least 25. It is not clear who was behind the attack.

Homs was one of the early centres of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, which began in 2011, but it is now back in government hands.

The attacks happened in a predominantly Alawite district, the minority sect to which President Assad belongs.

The area has been previously targeted by so-called Islamic State.

The Observatory warned that with a large number of people injured, the death toll was likely to rise.

BDST: 1715 HRS, FEB 21, 2016
RS