Fighting Continues in Syria as UN Vote Looms

Smoke billows from a burned military truck belonging to forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Jubar near Damascus, July 18, 2012. Picture taken JulyFighting between Syrian rebels and government forces continued in the capital Thursday, a day after a bombing killed the country's defense minister and two other officials.

Rebels claimed responsibility for the blast Wednesday in Damascus, saying it represented the beginning of the end of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

​ ​​Syrian state television said the bomb exploded during a high-level meeting at the National Security building in Damascus, killing Defense Minister Daoud Rajha and Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat, brother-in-law of President Bashar al-Assad.  A Syrian general also was killed.

The Syrian military named Armed Forces Chief of Staff Fahed al-Jasem el-Freij as the country's new defense minister and vowed to "continue fighting terrorism."

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the bombing shows Syria's crisis is "rapidly spinning out of control."

The White House said the attack made it clear that President Assad was losing control, violence was increasing instead of decreasing and the international community needs to come together to support a political transition.

UN Security Council

The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on a Western-backed resolution that could impose sanctions on Syria. The vote was originally scheduled to take place Wednesday, but was postponed at the request of U.N. envoy Kofi Annan.   He said it is still possible to reach a compromise with Russia, which promises a veto.

British Prime Minister David Cameron urged the Security Council to pass "clear and tough" messages on sanctions against Syria, and said it is time for Assad to go.

"The message to [Russia's] President Putin... and the message to all those on the U.N. Security Council, it is time for the U.N. Security Council to pass clear and tough messages about sanctions." he said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the Council to "shoulder its responsibility" and take effective action.  He said the Syrian people have suffered for too long.

U.S. President Barack Obama talked about Syria in a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday. They noted the differences both sides have on Syria, but also their shared goal of ending the