Explosions rocked the Syrian capital early Friday , hours before U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with her Russian counterpart to raise pressure on the crisis in the Middle East nation . Clinton meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in St. Petersburg amid their nations ' deep divisions over Syria . Their meeting is expected to include a discussion of Russian arm sales to the Syrian regime . Clinton will attend Saturday 's emergency meeting in Geneva , Switzerland , led by Kofi Annan , the United Nations ' and Arab League 's special envoy for Syria . U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hopes the meeting marks a `` turning point '' in diplomatic efforts . The United States has advocated a political transition plan in Syria . Russia has opposed the idea that other countries dictate a political transition , insisting that it is a decision for the Syrians themselves . But Lavrov said in Moscow that a transitional period is `` necessary for settling the Syrian crisis and establishing stable and generally acceptable rules and norms , which will satisfy all the Syrian groups . '' As diplomats prepared for the weekend talks , violence continued Thursday across Syria . Massive explosions shook the heart of Damascus near the Justice Ministry , state-run media said . Two blasts occurred in a parking lot Thursday outside the Palace of Justice , which houses the ministry , Syrian state TV said . The Local Coordination Committees of Syria said it occurred in the Marja neighborhood of central Damascus . At least three people were injured , and 20 cars were damaged , state TV said . The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 140 people , 46 of them government forces , died in violence Thursday . The Local Coordination Committees put the number at 139 , but it counts only civilians and soldiers who defected . Both opposition groups said many of the deaths occurred in Damascus suburbs , mostly in the town of Douma , and in Homs . CNN can not independently confirm the reports of casualties or violence because access by international journalists to Syria has been severely restricted . State media said an armed terrorist group assassinated a doctor and several members of her family in a Homs suburb . It said that `` competent authorities '' fought the group , killing 10 and injuring 20 . On Wednesday , bombers killed at least seven people in the headquarters of the al-Ikhbaria television station near Damascus , the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported . Three journalists and four security guards died , and the attackers ransacked and destroyed studios , the news outlet said . There has been a flurry of attacks in Syria 's major cities of Damascus and Aleppo in recent months , strikes that opposition groups have said the government has orchestrated to discredit anti-regime forces . President Bashar al-Assad 's regime has blamed the attacks on terrorists . `` Terrorist operations of this nature could not be implemented without adequate financing and support in terms of providing money , weapons or persons or through media and political coverage , '' Bashar Jaafari , Syrian ambassador to the United Nations , said Thursday . After more than 15 months , unrest in the Arab nation shows no sign of abating . Internationally , tension rose last week after Syria shot down a Turkish jet , an act deplored by NATO and many Western nations . The Geneva meeting will bring together top diplomats of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- China , France , Russia , the United Kingdom and the United States -- and Turkey . Envoys from the United Nations , the European Union and the Arab League also were invited . The meeting of the group , dubbed the Action Group for Syria , comes at a critical time for the country , which has been mired in an uprising since March 2011 that has pitted al-Assad 's forces against rebels calling for his ouster . A peace plan hammered out by Annan fell apart this month after both sides -- the Syrian government and the rebels -- accused the other of failing to abide by the terms to end the killing . Iran has not been invited to the meeting . The United States was against Tehran 's presence despite Annan 's and Russia 's positions that Iran must be involved in helping forge peace in Syria . Lavrov says Iran is an `` influential player in this situation , '' and it 's a `` great mistake '' to exclude that country . `` It has been said publicly in Washington that the U.S. is categorically against Iran 's participation , '' Lavrov said . `` This is a manifestation of a double standard . When the Americans needed to settle some issues related to the security of their troops in Iraq and Afghanistan , they initiated contacts with Iran and agreed on something without any hesitations . '' Annan also declined to invite Saudi Arabia , which backs the opposition . Russia did not want Saudi Arabia at the meeting . Russia has been under pressure to stop providing arms to the Syrian regime . A shipment of refurbished Russian helicopters headed for Syria had to turn around and return to Russia after its British insurance company dropped coverage on the ship carrying the aircraft . Russia and China , permanent members of the Security Council , have major trade deals with Syria . Both countries vetoed a U.N. resolution calling for an end to the violence and a transition of power . Photos : In Syrian hospital , no escape from war . Former U.S. soldier aids Syria 's wounded .
Opposition groups release the bombing figures . A Damascus blast injured at least three people . U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend a meeting on Friday , an official says . Red Cross says its teams ca n't rescue civilians trapped in Homs .