Syrian government attacks kill civilians as peace talks start in Vienna

At least 47 people were killed and more than 100 wounded Friday after Syrian government airstrikes hit a marketplace in a Damascus suburb, sources told Al Jazeera.

Activists with Syria Civil Defense, a local humanitarian groups that operates in rebel-held areas, said the air raids targeted a busy market in Douma, east of Damascus, which for weeks has been under intense government attack.

Witnesses said missiles were fired into the marketplace in the rebel-held part of Douma. The toll is expected to rise as rescuers pull people out of damaged buildings.

"This is the second time this market has been targeted in Douma," the civil defense officer said over phone.

"There are only civilians here — no army and no opposition forces. Residents do not permit any armed person in this area," he said. "This market is at the heart of Douma and supplies everyone here. Lots of farmers come here every morning to sell their items. The market was intentionally targeted."

A local activist, speaking to Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity, said Douma was under heavy attack since Friday morning.

"Every 10 minutes we are under attack. Rocket attacks and air strikes," the activist said. "We expect a rising death toll," he said. "Every corner of Douma is being bombed."

"Utterly heinous that while world leaders meet for peace in Vienna, attack(s) against civilians continue in Syria," the group said on Twitter.

The Douma assault came as the U.S., Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and other world powers met in Vienna with the aim of achieving a political settlement to help end the war in Syria. 

Friday's talks in the Austrian capital included for the first time the participation of Iran, the chief backer — along with Russia — of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

Syria's 4-year-old civil war has killed more than 250,000 people and driven more than 10 million from their homes.

Al Jazeera and Reuters