Fear rules in Damascus as Syria's revolt enters fourth year

Men ride on bicycles past damaged buildings in Al-Maliha town, in the suburbs of Damascus March 16, 2014. Picture taken March 16, 2014. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - During a recent meeting of Damascene merchants, talk turned to the case of a colleague detained by Syria's powerful and dreaded state security apparatus.

The man in question, it seemed, had overheard someone cursing President Bashar al-Assad, but failed to turn them in.