BEIRUT - Syria's foreign minister said on Friday that nine school children were killed in a "terrorist" attack on Tuesday, contradicting an earlier report from the official state news agency saying 28 had been killed.
State television reported on Tuesday that a rebel mortar attack killed nine school children and a teacher when "terrorists" - a term the government uses for rebels who are fighting to oust President Bashar Assad - fired a mortar at a school in Wafideen Camp, in the Damascus suburbs.A later report by the state news agency SANA said that the number had risen to 28 school children and one teacher. UNICEF, the United Nations children's fund, released a statement on Wednesday condemning the attack.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem was quoted on Friday by SANA telling Filippo Grandi, the UN Relief and Works Agency Commissioner General, that nine school children and a teacher were killed in the attack.
Reuters is unable to independently verify reports in Syria due to severe government restrictions.
