Rebels in Syria have carried out a new bombing targeting the regime of Bashar al-Assad in the capital of Damascus. Earlier today a bomb struck a school building occupied by state forces, wounding at least seven people. It was one of the boldest attacks in the Assad regime’s stronghold since a suicide bomber killed Assad’s brother-in-law and defense minister in July. In his first briefing to the U.N. Security Council, U.N.-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said he sees no signs of progress toward negotiations.

Lakhdar Brahimi: “The situation is indeed extremely difficult. You know, there is a stalemate. There is no prospect for today or tomorrow to move forward. But I also told the council that, paradoxically, now that I have found out a little bit more about what is happening in the country and the region, I think that we will find an opening in the not-too-distant future. I refuse to believe that reasonable people do not see that you cannot go backward.”