The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian transitional government has condemned the terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Mar St. Elias Church in Damascus, which killed and injured many civilians.

In a statement disseminated by the SANA news agency, the ministry said that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber belonging to the Islamic State extremist group.

“We condemn the criminal act committed against members of the Christian community, which is a desperate attempt to undermine national unity and destabilize the situation in the country,” the document said.

It stressed that the explosion at the aforesaid church in the Syrian capital’s Duwaila district was “a despicable response by the remnants of terrorist groups to the achievements of the Syrian state and leadership.”

"Syria calls on the international community and the UN Security Council to strongly condemn this terrorist attack and support the government's efforts to combat terrorism and establish security and stability," the document added.

The Syrian health ministry had announced that at least 20 people were killed and 52 others were injured in the aforesaid explosion. The statement had added the death toll could rise.