Over the past days, Syria has been the theatre of an extreme violence. Deadly crackdowns against civilians continue, while clashes between security forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and army defectors left dozens of dead people across the country. On Friday, October 28th, security forces killed at least 36 civilians who were demonstrating in the cities of Homs and Hama, asking for an international intervention. On Saturday, October 29th, clashes between security forces and army defectors intensified and according to the Syrian observatory of Human Rights, 47 people have been killed in Homs and in the Idleb province. The security in the country is not guaranteed and more violence and social unrest are expected in coming days and weeks.
On Sunday, October 30th, the Arab League has submitted a plan to end seven months of deadly violence in Syria. According to the plan, negotiations between Bashar al-Assad and the opposition will take place in Cairo (Egypt). Syrian authorities are due to give an answer today. Human Right organisations denounced the death of at least 3,000 civilians since the beginning of the social uprising. Most of the victims have been killed in Homs, a stronghold of the opposition movement. President al-Assad has warned the international community that any international military intervention, similar to the NATO operations in Libya, will create deep political and social instability in the region, as Syria could turn into a new Afghanistan.
Due to the current situation, most of the western embassies advise their citizens against all travel to Syria and advise those already in the country to consider leaving as soon as possible by commercial means.
