DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Syrian rebels have claimed responsibility for two bombings today that left Syria's army command headquarters in flames.

Syria's state TV says the attack was carried out by suicide car bombers. It says four guards were killed.

The twin blasts were followed by several hours of gun battles between rebel fighters and regime forces in downtown Damascus. A reporter for an Iranian TV channel also was killed by gunfire near the clashes, and a correspondent for another Iranian station was wounded.

Syrian state TV aired what it said was security camera footage of the blasts. In the first, a white van is driving on the road outside the military headquarters, then veers to the right and explodes. The second blast goes off inside the compound, with flames rising from behind trees.

Later, the army command building is seen engulfed in flames that sent huge columns of thick black smoke over Damascus for several hours.

Rebels from the Free Syrian Army claimed responsibility. In recent months rebels have increasingly targeted symbols of the regime's power.

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