DAMASCUS, Jan. 26 -- A booby-trapped car ripped through a pro-government district of Syria's central city of Homs, followed by another explosion carried out by a suicide bomber, who detonated his explosive belt in the same district Tuesday, state news agency SANA reported.

The bombings targeted the al-Zahra' neighborhood, which is inhabited by people of the Alwaite minority, to whom the ruling elite in Syria belongs.

According to the official reports, minutes separated the two bombings in ', which has been a target for several bombings in recent months.

Still, further details about the death toll are forthcoming.

The neighborhood along with other districts of Homs loyal to the government has suffered from repeated suicide bombings, as well as rocket and mortar fire from rebels entrenched in the countryside of Homs, Syria's third largest city.