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 A car bomb has exploded in the Syrian capital, Damascus, killing at least 17 people and wounding 14 others.

The bomb went off today (Saturday) on the airport road near a crowded intersection, leading to a holy shrine (Sayyeda Zeinab)popular with Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims from Iraq and Iran.

Syrian state media say the car was packed with about 200 kilograms of explosives.

Witnesses say the blast destroyed nearly 20 vehicles and blew out windows in dozens of nearby buildings.

A Syrian police precinct borders the site of the explosion, but it is not clear if that was the target of the attack. Most of the victims were civilians.

Syrian security forces immediately closed off the neighborhood to investigate the attack.

Syria's Interior Minister General Bassam Abdel Majid called the bombing "cowardly" and an "act of terrorism."