ZeinaKhodr-AJE

Undoubtedly people took to the streets to demand democratic reforms. But it is now a civil war. And there is hatred. Many people in the opposition feel that they were marginalized... never given equal opportunities,. there was corruption ... To some extent you feel it is also a class war ... I remember standing at the main border corssing between Lebanon and Syria when thousands fled Damascus due to the fighting last year (July) - they were fleeing in their vehicles and had the money to stay at hotels. One hundred meters from the crossing there were people crossing into the country illegally and being sent to camps. One man from Homs told me: look all they care about is their cars and apratments ... let them feel what we have been enduring for months

Undoubtedly the government has been responsible for many atrocities. It is fighting its own people. The rebels have been accused of atrocities like executing their prisoners ... The UN has blamed both sides but it was right when it said rebels didnt reach the "intensity and scale" of the regime's

Not a witness, no. But there have been videos.

Conditions are bad. Many have lost their jobs and livelihoods. Many have been forced from their homes because of the fighting. And most of the fighting has been in poor rural areas ... even in Aleppo city ... the fighting has been in impoverished neighborhoods where the rebels were able to set up base . So many people were poor to begin with. It is a daily struggle ... As for the opposition - they are united in their goal to topple the regime ... but they often dont coordinate on the ground and they have different agendas for the "new" Syria

Hard to say but I can tell you who lost: the civilians