BEIRUT - The Arab League sent monitors to Syria Monday even though President Bashar Assad's regime has only intensified its crackdown on dissent in the week since agreeing to the Arab plan to stop the bloodshed.
Activists say government forces have killed several hundred civilians in the past week. At least 23 more deaths were reported Monday from intense shelling in the center of the country, just hours before the first 60 monitors were to arrive. The opposition says thousands of government troops have been besieging the Baba Amr district of in the central city of Homs for days and the government is preparing a massive assault on the area.
France expressed strong concerns about the continued deterioration of the situation in Homs. Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero demanded Syrian authorities allow the Arab League observers immediate access to the city....
France does have clout. The French connected to NATO is a plus and their 'lead' with Libya brings greater respect. Well done.
It is all too easy to be 'across the pond' while passing judgement, but, it is something quite different to live in shouting distance of the unrest, poverty and pain of oppression.
It is all too easy to be 'across the pond' while passing judgement, but, it is something quite different to live in shouting distance of the unrest, poverty and pain of oppression.
