Syria suicide bombers kill dozens in Damascus

>> there was some disturbing news from this nation's largest bank, jpmorgan chase . ceo jamie diamond held a hastily called conference call to announce the company has lost $2 billion in its own trading portfolio and the losses were a lack of internal controls, errors, sloppiness, and bad judgment. diamond said the company could still lose more money on the trading positions. jp morken and other stocks fell in after hours trading.

>>> oerb seas tonight, a bloody day in syria . arguably the wus day in the capital since the struggle started 14 months ago now. at least 55 were killed, some 372 injured by two powerful car bombs that exploded today in damascus. our chief foreign correspondent richard engle has our report.

>> the first bomb drew in the crowds. then a second killed them. this doesn't look like a pro democracy uprising, but like baghdad on a bad day . two suicide bombers in vehicles targeted an intelligence compound in damascus with a ton of explosives. the crater, ten feet deep. many images too graphic to show. the attack bolsters the government's claim that it's fighting terrorists, not pro democracy campaigners. just after the bombing, supporter of al assad took to the streets to back him. in this chaotic mix, u.n. monitors.

>> this is going to create more suffering for women, children, the city, and people. it is not going to solve any problems.

>> by phone, an activist in hiding denied that the so-called legitimate opposition was responsible.

>> the free syrian army made an announcement and declared clearly it's not behind these explosions.

>> who did it? experts believe it was the work of islamic militants . they have been pouring into syria to fight the government, but today's bloodbath may have played right into assad's hands. the uprising in syria has been going on for over a year, brian. and attacks like the one today completely undermine the opposition's credibility, and the syrian government isn't showing signs of cracking.

>> there's no way to know whou this inends, but what is going on?

>> the opposition wanted weapons, military support, and they didn't get it. the opposition doesn't control any territory. they don't have a strong hand. what they did get was islamic militants responding to a call, rushing in to try to help this opposition, and it's only made the situation worse.

>> our chief foreign correspondent richard engle here with us in new york.