A total of 17 people including women and children were injured Friday when two mortar shells slammed areas east of the capital Damascus, the official SANA news agency reported.

The mortars landed at al-Baitara roundabout and Bab Sharqi district in Damascus, said SANA, adding that a girl was critically wounded during the attack that has also left property losses and many burnt cars.

The attack, the latest in a series of mortar attacks launched by rebels in the outskirts of Damascus, took place as thousands of pro-government Syrians rallied in the Mazzeh district west of Damascus in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

Women and children were among those taking part in the rally, the latest in a string of pro-government demonstrations held recently in Damascus and other government-controlled areas across Syria.

Such pro-government events have re-emerged as the Syrian troops were gaining the upper hand in the battles against the rebels in various Syrian areas.

On Friday, the Syrian troops killed at least 20 rebels in an ambush east of Damascus.