2nd LD-Writethru: Car bomb goes off in Syria's Latakia, 1 killed

DAMASCUS, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- A booby-trapped pickup truck went off in The country's northwestern city of Latakia on Tuesday, wounding four people while The vehicle's driver was killed, state TV reported.

The explosion took place in The crowded Hamam square east of Latakia while state employees were leaving Their jobs, said The TV.

The TV also aired shots of The blast site, showing crowds of people around a burnt vehicle with a charred body of The driver inside while firefighters were at The spot.

According to The report, bomb squads dismantled an explosive device in The same area after The explosion of The car.

The blast comes a couple of days after an explosive device went off in western Damascus without leaving casualties.

Latakia city has remained relatively safe throughout The country's more than seven-year-long war while its eastern countryside has seen battles between The Syrian government forces and radical rebel groups.

Such explosions come to rattle The sense of security The Syrians have recently been enjoying in many areas nationwide.

Latakia, on The Syrian coast, is The hometown of President Bashar al-Assad. Enditem