Syria’s interior minister has vowed to respond with an “iron fist” after a suicide bomber wrought devastation on the country’s capital on Friday.

It is reported at least 26 people were killed by the massive explosion in the heart of Damascus. 63 were wounded.

The blast came just two days ahead of a report by Arab League monitors, who are in Syria to check the country’s compliance with an agreement to end a 10 month brutal crackdown.

At Sunday’s Arab league meeting in Cairo, observers must decide whether to continue their mission, or hand the issue over to the UN Security Council.

If the UN do become involved, it could lead to international intervention, something many Arab countries are keen to avoid.