Damascus bombings: At least 20 killed as twin blasts hit Syrian capital suburb

The suburb is home to one of one of Shia Islam's most renowned shrines

Syrians gathering at the scene of a double bomb attack outside the Sayyida Zeinab shrine (AFP)

At least 20 people have been killed after two explosions hit the suburb of Sayyida Zeinab outside Damascus, a monitoring group has said.

The first explosion was caused by a suicide attacker wearing an explosives belt at the entrance of Ziabiyeh district, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reports.

The second blast was triggered by a car bomb in the main al-Tin Street in al-Diyabia town, according to Syrian state TV.

Isis has claimed responsibility for the bombings through its Amaq propaganda outlet. Amaq say "three martyrdom operations" took place on Saturday using suicide vests and car bombs.

It is not immediately possible to explain the discrepancy between Aamaq's account and those of Syrian state media and activists, who have reported only two explosions.

Destruction at the site of a double bomb attack outside the Sayyida Zeinab shrine (AFP)

The UK-based Saurian Observatory for Human Rights report at least 20 people killed, including 13 civilians, and more than 30 wounded in the blasts.

SANA say 12 people have been killed and 55 injured people have reached hospital, citing medical sources.

Images of the scene on Syria's official Al-Ikhbariya channel showed burned-out cars with plumes of black smoke. Fighfighters were also seen battling to extinguish the flames.

A number of houses have been damaged and a market was set on fire during the incident, SANA reports.

SANA quoted Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi as blaming Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, for being behind the "brutal massacres." The three countries are main supporters of the Syrian opposition trying to remove President Bashar Assad from power.

The suburb is home to one of one of Shia Islam's most renowned shrines.

The shrine, around six miles south of the centre of Damscus, is heavily garrisoned by pro-government forces but has still been the target of several attacks, some of which have been claimed by Isis.

The shrine contains the grave of Zeinab, the daughter of the first Shia imam, Ali, and granddaughter of the Islamic Prophet Muhammed. It receives thousands of Shia pilgrims each year.

Sayyida Zeinab has been a frequent target of suicide and car bombings in Syria's civil war, now in its sixth year. Some of them have been claimed by Isis.

In April, at least seven were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on Sayyida Zeinab.

A sting of Isis bombings near the shrine in February left more than 130 dead, most of whom were civilians, according to the Observatory.

In January, another attack claimed by Isis left 70 people dead.

The Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah cited the threat to Sayyida Zeinab as a principal reason for its intervention in the civil was on the side of President Bashar al-Assad.

Thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shia militia recruits, volunteering to fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to bring down Assad's government, also come to the area before being sent to frontlines across Syria.

They say they come to Syria to defend the Sayeda Zeinab shrine from radical Sunni extremists.

Additional reporting by agencies