Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad clashed with rebels in the heart of the capital Damascus near the Syrian central bank on Saturday, August 11 a resident told Reuters, the agency reported.

An explosion was followed by fighting, said the resident, who asked not to be named for fear of arrest.

"The explosion was huge. There has been fighting for the past half an hour along Pakistan street. I am very close. Can you hear that?" she asked, to the sound of a loud bang.