Syrian state media says Internet, telephone service have been restored in Damascus

BEIRUT - Syrian state media says Internet and telephone service have been restored in Damascus following a two-day, nationwide communications blackout.

The SANA state news agency says technical teams restored the services Saturday. It wasn't clear whether service to the rest of the country was being restored.

The communications blackout began Thursday, raising fears of a burst of fighting outside the public eye. The government and rebels have blamed each other for cutting the lines.

Syrian troops are fighting a 20-month-old revolt against the President Bashar Assad's regime. Activists say some 40,000 people have been killed in the violence.