Deadly twin car bombs have ripped through the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Activists say the blasts Wednesday have killed at least 20 people. Television footage shows firemen hosing down the remains of charred vehicles. Debris from the blasts was scattered about the street.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says violence across the country has killed more than 40,000 people since the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began in March of last year.