Wednesday, September 13 2006 11:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Damascus: Islamist gunmen launched a brazen assault on the US embassy in Damascus yesterday (Sept 12, 2006), using grenades, automatic weapons and an explosives-laden van in a foiled attack that left four people dead.

Three assailants and a member of Syria's anti-terror squad were killed in a shootout during the daylight bid to storm the embassy, which came a day after the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks and at a time of particularly tense relations between Washington and Damascus.

"The terrorist attack failed. It did not achieve the objectives of the criminals responsible," Interior Minister General Bassam Abdel Majid said, the state news agency SANA reported.

It described the attackers as 'takfiri' or Islamic extremists, although no group has yet claimed responsibility.

The United States praised Syria's action in foiling the attack, while several other nations vowed to boost security at their missions in Damascus and US embassies on their own soil.

"I do think that the Syrians reacted to this attack in a way that helped to secure our people and we very much appreciate that," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

"It also once again illustrates the importance of Syria being an important ally in the war on terror," added White House spokesman Tony Snow.

"We are hoping they will become an ally and make the choice of fighting against terrorists," he said.

Relations have been strained over Iraq, the war in Lebanon and Syria's support for Palestinian militants opposed to the peace process with Israel, and last week the White House branded Syria and and its top regional ally Iran 'especially worrisome' threats.

Abdel Majid said three 'terrorists' were killed and one wounded in clashes with Syrian forces charged with protecting the embassy, located in the high-security diplomatic quarter of the capital and close to offices of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

SANA said an anti-terror operative was killed and another 14 people wounded, including an embassy guard and passers-by. Chinese state media said a Chinese diplomat standing on top of Beijing's embassy nearby had been slightly injured by a stray bullet.

"All embassy personnel and their family members are safe," the US embassy said in a statement, adding that the mission would stay closed for at least another day and calling on Americans to adopt a low-profile.

"The Syrian government has pledged full security cooperation," he said.

It was the latest in a series of deadly attacks against US diplomatic missions across the globe, the most recent being in March 2006 in Pakistan on the eve of a visit by US President George W Bush.

Television footage showed a burnt-out car and bloodstains on the pavement outside the high-walled compound, and a white van packed with gas canisters strapped with explosives charges.

"Home-made bombs and automatic weapons were used during the terrorist attack," SANA said, adding that security forces thwarted a car bombing.