War takes role in television dramas

DAMASCUS - The sound of the blast in Syria's capital Damascus brought worried residents running, but rather than carnage they found a crew filming one of the country's famed television drama series.

Moments before, director Rasha Sharbatgi had been wielding her loudhailer, calling for silence before counting down to the controlled explosion.

Onlookers arriving at the set near Arnus Square in central Damascus found a burning car and people lying on the ground.