UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the media at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 8, 2017. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that the international community will rally behind Kenya's efforts to tackle biting drought and regional conflicts. (Xinhua/File Photo/Pan Siwei)

UNITED NATIONS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday condemned the terrorist bombings in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Saturday, saying that those responsible for the bombings "must be held accountable."

"The secretary-general is appalled by the utter disregard for human life displayed by the perpetrators, and extends his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, many of whom were pilgrims," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said in a statement.

"Those responsible for the bombings, and anyone carrying out attacks against civilians, must be held accountable," the statement said.

On Saturday, two bombings were carried out in swift succession near a cemetery in the Shaghour area in the old part of the capital Damascus, reportedly killing 74 people, mainly Shiite Iraqi visitors.

The Levant Liberation Committee, an Al Qaeda-linked group, on Sunday claimed responsibility for the twin blasts in Damascus.

The group said in a statement that the attack was carried by two of its suicide attackers, claiming that they targeted pro-Iranian and pro-government militiamen, reports said.