Car bomb in Damascus residential neighbourhood kills judge; Syrian regime blames 'terrorists'

BEIRUT - Syrian state media say a judge has been assassinated in a residential neighbourhood of Damascus.

The state-run SANA news agency says a "terrorist group" planted explosives under the car of judge Abad Nadhwah in the Barzeh neighbourhood of the Syrian capital. The bomb was detonated remotely, killing him instantly.

Wednesday's blast is the latest in a wave of assassinations targeting high-ranking supporters of President Bashar Assad's regime. The brother of Syria's parliament speaker was gunned down on Tuesday, also in Damascus.

Syria's regime describes the uprising against Assad as a foreign plot and refers to rebels fighting the military as terrorists.

More than 36,000 people have been killed since the revolt began in March last year.