Dozens of civilians were killed by a missile strike on a Damascus petrol station yesterday as the UN revealed that the death toll from the 22-month-old conflict has passed 60,000 — far more than previously thought.

The attack by a MiG fighter on the petrol station in the eastern suburb of Meleiha was one of the bloodiest yet, causing an explosion and inferno that killed or wounded numerous drivers queueing for scarce fuel.

Video footage showed black smoke billowing skywards from a scene of carnage. The area was strewn with burning vehicles and charred, mutilated bodies. A corpse still sat on a burning motorbike. A wailing man held up a disembodied head.

Opposition activists said between 30 and 70 people were killed, and many more