DHAKA: A mortar shell hit the Chinese embassy in Syria’s capital Damascus on Monday, damaging the building and wounding one person.

Chinese state media reported, says The Jerusalem Post.

Insurgents fighting to topple president Bashar Assad have launched mortar and rocket attacks on the city centre in recent months, including in the upscale al-Maliki neighbourhood where the Chinese mission is located.

China’s state news agency Xinhua said opposition forces had launched the shell, which fell into the embassy and damaged doors and windows.

A Syrian employee suffered minor injuries, it said, without adding details.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement that China was ‘shocked by the incident and strongly condemns it’.

BDST: 1912 HRS, SEPT 30, 2013
RoR/SRS