Current event presentation

Violence rages in Syria despite high-level diplomacy

By Molly VoraPeriod 6

Conflict in Syria Protests began on

March 15, 2011 Began in Daraa with

the arrest of 15 children

By April 2011 protests all over Syria

April 25, 2011 government launched a siege on major cities (Daraa and Homs)

Government tortures protestors

What sort of country is Syria? Government:

Republic under an authoritarian regime

Current President: Bashar al-Assad

Has been in power since 2000

Inherited the control of Syria after his father died

Population: 22 million people

What do the protestors want? Initially: Basic

reforms, more freedoms, a multi-party political system

Now: The al-Assad regime out and true democratic elections

Opposition groups are not united

Protestors are unarmed

How is the government responding? New constitution

offering multi-party election

Regime is slaughtering civilians to wipe out everyone who is not loyal to Assad

Brutal crackdown There is international

pressure Many Western

countries have imposed sanctions

Assad refuses to step down

The revolution Three main groups:

Syrian National Council (SNC)

National Co-ordination Committee (NCC)

Free Syrian Army 9,000 dead 30,000 neighboring

countries Thousands have

been arrested U.N. Security Council

has failed to agree on a resolution

Currently Violence in the areas of

Homs, Idlib, the Damascus, and Deir Ezzor

Syrian Army has blockaded many cities

By April 10th, President Assad promises the U.N. it will pull forces out of cities and not use weapons (Cease fire)

Government is lying Tanks are entering

cities still

Future of Syria Peaceful solution seems

unlikely Military intervention Big

Civil War Diplomatic approaches

not effective Eventual collapse of

Syria's currency regime will die

If Assad steps down transitional government before elections

Why we care? Assad supports terrorist groups and allows them to cross into into Iraq.

Thank you for listening!