In life and war: Damascus chronicle (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

As opposition fighters in Syria are trying to build on the momentum gained by fierce clashes in the capital and Wednesday's bomb attack, RT’s Maria Finoshina reports from Damascus on the changes the city has undergone in just a few days.

­Some parts of Damascus, “a beautiful and solemn city”, have changed dramatically in the last 4-5 days, says RT crew who arrived there some 50 days ago.

The clashes between the government forces and the opposition have been taking place in at least five districts of the city, and not only remote ones, but close to the city center as well. Taxi drivers refuse to go to some of the 'hot' central areas like Midan.

RT Photo / Maria Finoshina

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Devastation is everywhere in this district. Helicopters are flying over the area shooting fom time to time.

Maria says store where the crew used to buy fruit and nuts is now abandoned, its windows gone.

The streets were empty, but traces of war and the fierce clashes abounded.

Tank tracks could be seen on the ground, not only on the roads, but even on flattened vehicles.   

RT Photo / Maria Finoshina

Yet, Maria says, people are dealing bravely with the current wartime situation. And even though they are at times angry, afraid and nervous, they have kept in good spirits.

Some of the Syrians on the ground who were willing to talk told the RT crew that for the sake of the Syrian people, the country needed less talk and more effective leadership from the Security Council, as well as genuine unity around a political plan.

RT Photo / Maria Finoshina

RT Photo / Maria Finoshina

RT Photo / Maria Finoshina

RT Photo / Maria Finoshina

RT Photo / Maria Finoshina