BRUSSELS - The foreign policy chief of the European Union (EU) Catherine Ashton on Wednesday condemned the suicide bomb attack in Damascus which killed three senior officials.

"Today's bomb attack against senior Syrian military and security officials in Damascus underlines the urgent need for concerted action by the UN Security Council and the international community to enforce Kofi Annan's peace plan," said Ashton in her statement.

"I condemn the attack and am deeply concerned at the escalating violence and its tragic consequences for the Syrian population," she said, adding that "it is of the utmost priority that violence stops now and that all parties engage in a peaceful settlement of the conflict."

It was confirmed that Syrian Assistant Vice-President, General Hassan Turkmani, Syrian Defense Minister Dawood Rajha, and his Deputy, Assef Shawkat were killed as an explosion ripped through the national intelligence headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday morning, dealing a strong blow to the Syrian leadership, which pledged tough response to the attack.

Later in the day, UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan asked the Security Council to delay its vote on a draft resolution concerning the extension of UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), according to the British Mission to the UN.

"Joint Special Envoy Annan has asked to delay today's draft Syria resolution vote. With fellow co-sponsors we're considering that request," said the British Mission in a Twitter message.