this is how president assad is used to being greeted. it was only a few weeks ago when he spoke to parliament in damascus. while politicians were clapping, outside more and more demonstrators were marching. [clapping and chanting] >> president assad was elected in a landslide. he was the only candidate. he maintains power through an elaborate allianan that included various secret services, the armed forces, a powerful family clan, the baath political party, and a vast network of informants. his pilot -- his father was an air force general. he gave up power in 1970. -- he sees to -- he took power in 1970 and ruled for 30 years. his son took over in 2000 when his father died. there was hope for reforms but they never materialized. the state that he inherited from his father stayed in place. measures included severe restrictions on the press and the right to assembly. demonstrators could be arrested without charge. there was no appeal of state security court verdict. after the demonstrations showed no signs of abating, their regime was forc

we hope assad will reform. it is annoying. >> we have a technical definition for american action, greeted largely through the libyan crisis, which is it -- created largely through the libyan crisis, which is a humanitarian crisis. it is killing children ordinarily an element of that -- i am wondering, is killing children ordinarily an element of that? >> i would interpret that as a green light to avoid using fixed-winged aircraft. if use around towns with tanks, then that is fine -- you surround towns with tanks, then that is fine. >> they used shoppers already in the conflict in -- choppers already in the conflict in daraa. we have had reports of bombardments. i would not put it past them. they got into a situation where the international community, especially after the failure to issue a clear indictment, that they feel encouraged, they feel empowered to do anything they want. unless the international community adopts a language of sanctions and implements sanctions against by charles ko'd and his regime -- a

i'm not sure that president assad knows. back in the 1980's, they were able to call on the more loyal elements of the army to go suppress the muslim brotherhood uprising that led to 10's of thousands of deths. now, it's not so sure. recall, a -- thousands of deaths. now, it's not so sure. conscripts are rank and file, they are sunnis. he can count on some of them most of the time. can he count on all of them all of the time? that's a very different question. we'll have to see whether the army -- the army is much more representative of the people than some of the security services which are much more loyal to the regime but the army per se, that's wring we might see the first cracks, the first signs of people refusing to shoot, perhaps laying down their arms. that may be happening as we speak but because there is this dearth of credible information we just don't know but that's one of those questions that i think the regime itself must be asking. can we really count on the loyalty of these troops if we're asking them to shoot

in a speech last week, bashar al-assad did not bend to the street. instead, he blamed unnamed "conspirators" for the unrest. >> ( translated ): i speak to you today at very exceptional times. the events and developments seem to be testing our unity, the test that keeps repeating itself every now and then because of continued conspiracies over the homeland. but our will and unity and god's will continue to succeed in confronting these conspiracies every time successfully, which adds to our immunity and strength. >> woodruff: assad has offered some reform-- he dissolved his cabinet and, yesterday, granted citizenship to more than 200,000 ethnic kurds, who've long sought that status. but he maintains an iron-fist approach to protesters in the streets, as today's violence showed again. two views now on the unrest in syria. for that, we turn to flynt leverett. he's a professor of international affairs at penn state and a senior fellow at the new america foundation. he's the author of, "inheriting syria: bashar's trial by fire." and served at the national

is reportedly pursuing its own same plan as well but nowhere have we heard that assad must go for that limited humanitarian intervention is on the table quite the opposite of white house press secretary jay carney only announce that every country is to frank and different indeed but is that in action toward syria once again prove that there is no such thing as an overarching ideology for human rights and democracy and the duty to protect but only when political conditions favor joining me to discuss it is robert farley assistant professor at the university of kentucky patterson school and blogger lawyers guns and money robert thanks so much for joining us tonight now clearly every situation is different nobody can deny that but if you look at syria where upwards of four hundred protesters have been killed now according to human rights organizations where the violent or the government is clamping down violently and where the protestors are rebels where they have no arms how can you look at that situation and then look at libya and the way the international community has acted and justif

in a speech last week, bashar al-assad did not bend to the street. instead, he blamed unnamed "conspirators" for the unrest. >> ( translated ): i speak to you today at very exceptional times. the events and developments seem to be testing our unity, the test that keeps repeating itself every now and then because of continued conspiracies over the homeland. but our will and unity and god's will continue to succeed in confronting these conspiracies every time successfully, which adds to our immunity and strength. >> woodruff: asad has offered some reform-- he dissolved his cabinet and, yesterday, granted citizenship to more than 200,000 ethnic kurds, who've long sought that status. but he maintains an iron-fist approach to protesters in the streets, as today's violence showed again. two views now on the unrest in syria. for that, we turn to flynt leverett. he's a professor of international affairs at penn state and a senior fellow at the new america foundation. he's the author of"inheriting ria: bashar's trial by fire." and served at the national secur

>> he w until friday night, when he cald baar al-assad nam --y na. that is the fir tim he has stepd out and saidt publicly. it has beenemarble t wat how the unit states has reacted. theparticipated in the nato rikeagainst libya theyere ver quiet about bahrain, and even quieter about theaudi as they rolled into bahrain. syria is a little bit touer case becau on the one hand, no love is lostor president assad, but on the other ha, theyo no want a cil war to break out onhe bordert th me they're tryingoet isra bacinto aeace negotiation >> if it goes too far, ither is a vuum or civ war, thi could explod >> i is a vacuum the uted stes britain and france are trying tovoi vacuums and raly a well -- vacuums d rarely end ll. there i a conrn tt you could endp with more dictatorships but weer. that is the ccernoday. >> in lya, the fighting ntinued to rage tay in misrata, t onl cityeld by the rebels. the most recent rnd ces a the u.k. warrants tt troops mustrepa to in libya for the long haul. rebels are still unable to bak thforc loyal t colonel gaddafi. we have

we said,oes that me tha president assad is not in charge of the country? they didn't really awer e queson b it ds raise a interesting poinabouhow the view te country, whe th are perhaps ting to give pside asd a y out. they did tal about givin peop a choice. that all harkins back to t idea that esidt assads perhaps a rormer, that he wod li to try tbrinabout ange. a lo ofeople disagree with th they. buit ds give him a choice to change course. >> people are cliing to that hope thanks and in an uate, the interior nist mow rocco says that the device waset off row motely. people were killed inhat attack including forgners from canada, frae, btain and the nethlands. well, the celeatiomay be delayed in floda but i ldon the party is still in full sng afr the marriage of prince william and kate middleton. you know what i'm talking aut. no known as t duke and duchess cambrge,heir wedding has be a day-long and night-long celrati and we can noget back outsid buingham palace, loong splendid herself, but is not taking part inhe pty. what's going on? >> i know. you see,'m

is reportedly pursuing its own sanction plan as well but nowhere have we heard that assad must go or that limited humanitarian intervention is on the table quite the opposite white house press secretary jay carney only announced that every country is different and different indeed but is that in action toward syria once again prove that there is no such thing as an overarching ideology for human rights and democracy and a duty to protect but only when political conditions favor it joining me to discuss it is robert farley assistant professor at the university of kentucky patterson school and blogger at lawyers guns and money robert thanks so much for joining us tonight now clearly every situation is different nobody can deny that but if you look at syria where upwards of four hundred protesters have been killed now according to human rights organizations where the violent or the government is clamping down violently and where the protesters are holes where they have no arms how can you look at that situation and then look at libya and the way the international community has acted and

we hope assad will reform. it is annoying. >> we have a technical definition for american action, greeted largely through the libyan crisis, which is it -- created largely through the libyan crisis, which is a humanitarian crisis. it is killing children ordinarily an element of that -- i am wondering, is killing children ordinarily an element of that? >> i would ierpret that as a green light to avoid using fixed-winged aircraft. if use around towns with tanks, then that is fine -- you surround towns with tanks, then that is fine. >> they used shoppers already in the conflict in -- choppers already in the conflict in daraa. we have had reports of bombardments. i would not put it past them. they got into a situation where the international community, especially after the failure to issue a clear indictment, that they feel encouraged, they feel empowered to do anything they want. unless the international community adopts a language of sanctions and implements sanctions against by charles ko'd and his regime -- aga

we hope assad will reform. it is annoying. >> we have a technical definition for american action, greeted largely through the libyan crisis, which is it -- created largely through the libyan crisis, which is a humanitarian crisis. it is killing children ordinarily an element of that -- i am wondering, is killing children ordinarily an element of that? >> i would interpret that as a green light to avoid using fixed-winged aircraft. if use around towns with tanks, then that is fine -- you surround towns with tanks, then that is fine. >> they used shoppers already in the conflict in -- choppers already in the conflict in daraa. we have had reports of bombardments. i would not put it past them. they got into a situation where the international community, especially after the failure to issue a clear indictment, that they feel encouraged, they feel empowered to do anything they want. unless the international community adopts a language of sanctions and implements sanctions against by charles ko'd and his regime -- a

i take the united states wants assad to go the question is that there's no way that they can do it in and a cost effective manner in terms of intervening because on like egypt the military and the police support assad had and similarly in terms of the rhetoric they would like the saudis and the bar. what how do we know i mean for gosh sakes i mean when we went into libya the reason that that we got we did is the arab league asked us to go away and so we did not want to have a situation where the united states particularly you know so you have to say we're going you should of been drilling let me finish ok let me finish i don't interrupt you ok let me finish work ok well let me finish here let me finish air you know let me make my point ok let me finish i don't interrupt through when you're speaking ok i'm just saying that the united states does know there's no way in which the west can interfere in syria without making the situation worse on the ground rhetorical you they are saying they have condemned what assad is doing but in terms of the ability to do something it's not like libya

ok the united states wants assad to go the question is that there's no way that they can do it in and a cost effective manner in terms of intervening because on like egypt the military and police support assad and similarly in terms of the rhetoric they would like the saudis and the. what how do we know i mean for gosh sakes i mean when we went into libya the reason that that we know that we did it is the arab league asked us to go away and so we did not want to have a situation where the united states particularly you those seals they were going to you should have been the willing to let me finish ok let me finish i don't interrupt you ok let me finish ok. let me finish here let me finish air you know let me make my point ok well let me finish i don't interrupt through when you're speaking ok i'm just saying that the united states does know there's no way in which the west can interfere in syria without making the situation worse on the ground were toric lee they are saying they have condemned what assad is doing but in terms of the ability to do something it's not like libya where y

ok the united states wants assad to go the question is that there's no way that they can do it in and a cost effective manner in terms of intervening because on like egypt the military and the police support assad and similarly in terms of the rhetoric they would like be the saudis and the bar. what how do we know i mean for gosh sakes i mean when we went into libya the reason that that we know that we did it is the arab league asked us to go away and so we did not want to have a situation where the united states particularly you did not see them as they were going to do it you should have been the willing to let me finish ok let me finish i don't interrupt you ok let's look ok now let me finish air let me finish here you know let me make my point ok well let me finish i don't interrupt through when you're speaking ok i'm just saying that the united states does know there's no way in which the west can interfere in syria without making the situation worse on the ground rhetorical you they are saying they've condemned what assad is doing but in terms of the ability to do something it's

now they are saying they want a saad out. -- assad out. do you have a sense that their demands are organized? >> i think if you even look at what happened in the rest of the region, demands sometimes get expressed in concrete ways, i don't think they are concrete. i think at some level they are existential and psychological and emotional. they may ask for the lifting of martial law but when it is lifted it is not what they wanted. i think this is a real threat to the regime. i think what they want now is nothing short of a change of the regime and even if tomorrow they ask for something else specific, and even if president bashar gives it to them, i doubt it would be enough. >> actually there are two developments. there was a statement issued today by sort of what they call the popular-- responsible for leading the protests, in different parts of syria. so there is the statement was signed by the committee in dam as ca,-- these are now the local leaders of prot test movement. the protest movement is finally now given us leaders. we still d

intelligence and watch the full interview with julian assad monday here on r.t. . the world's eyes are on the run ins a day is prince william and kate middleton tie the knot in the lavish ceremony at westminster abbey thousands of police officers were deployed in one of the biggest security operations in the u.k. and more than forty people were arrested before the event a friend of one of the arrested protesters silkie carlos says the police approach was too harsh. it's been around one hundred pre-crime arrests which is not something you come to expect a democracy and these are people who really planning on just voicing their opinion and opposing them want to k. they do live in a very hierarchical system a very unfair system one that promotes inequality in poverty i mean it's thought that the cakes at the wedding a costing around one hundred thirty three dollars per slice there's been about twenty four million british pounds just spent on security by public funds and yet at the same time there are cuts being made to disabled people for students so it really highlig

the overthrow of assad, the assad government, the assad mafia would be a very welcome thing in syria. syria has had all kind of trouble throughout the region for a very long time. it seems to me if there is one place you look at and say strategically, where could, you know, could we have a real chance of doing something serious, that would be the place. yet, we haven't done anything serious. i don't know whether the c.i.a. or some other way we may be offering aid and comfort to the rebels but i hope we are. i don't understand why the president can't muster anything more than what you said was a strong statement. i don't think it's a strong statement that he made. it's a piece of paper and it doesn't accomplish anything. >> chris: it's a statement. i agree, he hasn't taken any action. let me ask you about that, mara, why do you think the obama administration has been so reluctant to confront assad? a few weeks ago you had hillary clinton talk about him as a potential reformer. are they that afraid what is going to follow him will be so much worse? >> may be pro-iranian. >> chris: is it

these people in an eastern city blamed president assad for the violence. throughout the country, tens of thousands took to the streets in defiance of a ban. the human-rights council has condemned the violent crackdown and launched the investigation into the killings. it stopped shorof calling for international intervention. >> to syria has a responsibility to protect its population from crimes against humanity and other international crimes. in this context, i would like to say that any attacks against the civilian population can be held criminally accountable. >> the president shows no sign of backing down. thousands flooded the streets as part of a nationwide day of rage. president assad made it clear that those who publicly challenge him will be met with force. >> huge crowds have taken to the streets to demand the resignation of president saleh. people came out to honor the protesters killed over the last three months. opposition leaders oppose a power transformer deal under which saleh would cede power exchange for community. libyan state television i

ok the united states wants assad to go the question is that there's no way that they can do it and a cost effective manner in terms of intervening because on like egypt the military and police support assad and similarly in terms of the rhetoric they would like to the saudis and the. but how do we know i mean for gosh sakes i mean when we went into libya the reason that that we know that we did it is the arab league asked us to go away and so we did not want to have a situation where the united states particularly you do those so you know you are going to go and you should have been dealing with me finish ok let me finish i don't interrupt you ok let me put it like ok well let me finish here let me finish eric you know i'll let me make my point ok let me finish i don't interrupt through when you're speaking ok i'm just saying that the united states does know there's no way in which the west can interfere in syria without making the situation worse on the ground rhetorical you they are saying they have condemned what assad is doing but in terms of the ability to do something it's not

i think we're witnessing the slow end of the assad dictatorship. we should stand with the people of syria. >> schieffer: but we sent american warplanes into libya. should we be doing that in syria? >> no. i think the u.s. military is now over-stretched with four major missions in iraq, afghanistan, libya, and japan. but the u.s.'s diplomatic authority can be a great source of strength and political support for the syrian opposition, which is now apparently got its voice, and i think we are seeing the final stages of the assad dictatorship. first, his father and now him. >> schieffer: the two democratic senators here in the studio-- senator blumenthal, where do you see this thing going on? some have talked about that libya imploded, but syria could explode. and could have an effect far greater than what's happening in libya, because after all, this is the main enemy of israel amongst, other things. what do we need to be doing there? >> and a far greater threat to israel and to the middle east generally in syria. we should encourage the democratic mo

potentially has more violence not doing what do you think about that i mean we have assad and people like this have they learned from the. mistakes that save their fellow dictators in the region. well i agree with what you've said of course but the other side of this coin is that what's happening in all these countries is one single phenomenon caused by the fall of an idea the idea of a family a dictator a. sort of a dynasty can rule a country using security services and the army and basically. raising any political life in the country. that's redundant now and that's what's causing all of the to collapse one after one after the other so so what's different is the circumstances but what the phenomena is more or less the same and if i had a formula in which the rules were the same because they have shown the west. that they are irreplaceable indispensable that they provide stability that beyond is chaos. it's unimaginable what would happen beyond them and that's what makes makes them. makes it difficult. to imagine life after them and that's why for example those that are clinging to

assad days are numbed. people who are afraid of the alternative should snap out of it. i don't know how delusional they will continue to be after all these years and these attempts and making them see the light. and now you have people being killed in cold blood in the streets and snipers killing children for crying you out loud and no one is disputing the veer asity of the videos or human rights organization. everybody says yes, this is true. snap out of it. we want it to going behind and brace the alternative. >> what has it said to you, you are speaking to the people in the administration? what are they saying to you? >> i haven't spoken to an official since obama came to office. there were some people who did and basically the language so far has been consistent with what you have seen with the statements coming out of the white house. condemned violence and assad reform and basically, it has been annoying. >> technical definition for american action created largely through the libian crisis which is a humanitarian crisis. i'm just wondering -- killing children is a

could then use as as intervention the other big difference is that despite the many problems of the assad regime it has much more of a social base and then the gadhafi does at this point and the people of syria even those who oppose assad would resist any kind of the western intervention back to russia has a base and serious hard to see any kind of resolution for an intervention getting past the u.n. security council in the case of that country now also i'm curious you know gadhafi you mentioned he's a dictator that is now the scored and the u.s. and u.s. allies but how did it get to that point because it actually wasn't that long ago that back in two thousand and eight khadafi was actually helping the u.s. in the war on terror and back in two thousand and three when the u.s. that you know for gain diplomatic ties with him and he let oil companies then you know how to fall turn around and look like crap. well he was rehabilitated in a sense but we were happy with him either he was an ally but is currently going to community and unit nations and so we could work with him etc and there was

west has been used as intervention you know the difference is that despite the many problems of the assad regime it has much more of a social base khadafi does at this point and the people of syria even those who oppose assad would resist any kind of the western intervention russia has a base in syria tired to see any kind of resolution for an intervention getting past the u.n. security council in the case of that country now also i'm curious you know gadhafi you mentioned he's a dictator that is now discords as the u.s. and u.s. allies but how do you get to that point because it actually wasn't that long ago that back in two thousand and eight khadafi was actually helping the weapon the war on terror and back in two thousand and three when the u.s. that you know were gained diplomatic ties with him and he let oil companies and you know how did it all turn around so quickly for him. well he was rehabilitated in a sense that we were happy with another he was an ally but he is kind of resigned to communicate communicate and so we could work with him better and there was no real prospect at

extending all the way through recent governments, through turkey, with bashar assad, where does that stand? where does israel stand with respect to syria and what do you think is happening in syria today and do you think it will topple the assad regime? >> the syrians will-- is one revolt and assad. >> to kill 20,000 people. >> it's normal. >> one town. >> finished. >> and-- was broken today and people are not afraid any more. it's a situation not yet decided and in syria,-- also some appearanceses of corruption, of family favouritism and so on. so it's not over. but it's a different situation already. and i don't know what to do with the result. but that's-- can turkey play a role or do you worry that turkey is moving the other way. >> what role can they play. i mean if you -- >> they were serving as a conduit as a meanses to talk to the syrian, that's one role. another role is because it's an islamic state. i mean because of its large muslim population it may be a bridge to islamist, hamas and others. hamas is located in part in damascus. >> i'm not sure. >> i am not sure they look

is trying to destabilize the bashar assad government like the recent reports and the weekly leaks cables prove it with also saudi arabia is financing the whistling brotherhood in syria and the muslim brotherhood its decency is a weapon used idea where to go on a saudi arabia b. would love to have a very very close ally you syria in the form of a muslim brotherhood government so i would say the attention to syria in the next five six weeks and how full washington ever push this china is of course making credits for the u.s. how far would washington go in competition with beijing where the problem is good dissent washington agendas white house and national security agencies cia the pentagon the pentagon these interesting africa agenda the one two windows were in libya install an african b. in africa where we have to remember the african headquarters and structure in germany because nobody now africa had quite its peace you know an african country and then the dominoes libya i do we coast we trade sea badly so my salt he said the next day i mean us to fail according to the african pentagon

where are you, assad?" they chant. "we will take off your head." the brutal state crackdown prompted two lawmakers and a religious leader to resign, but the bloodshed only seems to have emboldened the protesters. many of them now say the only way to honor those who have died is to continue the fight for freedom. mandy clark, cbs news, london. >> mitchell: the u.s. military says two american soldiers were killed yesterday during operations in southern iraq. officials did not say how the men died. nine u.s. soldiers have been killed this month in iraq. here at home, the debate over raising the national debt ceiling will resume at full volume when congress returns from its easter recess. wit johnson in washington has more on the battle and the latest read on public opinion. >> reporter: the u.s. credit limit of $14.3 trillion is almost maxed out. >> if our creditors start worrying that we may be unable to pay back our debts, that could drive up interest rates for everybody who borrows money. >> reporter: president obama wants an up-or-down vote in con

in syria president bashar al assad has appointed a new prime minister after dismissing the old cabinet in an attempt is the other rast of the country dozens have been killed in two weeks of fighting the government blames outside influence for the on ras about the situation has raised fears that further foreign military intervention could be on the cards but this with independent journalist james corbett joins us live from japan thanks for being with us this sunday now as this on ras continues how concerned do you think the west is with the current situation and is syria do you think considered as important as libya in terms of strategy well i think syria is obviously going to be a very important. piece on the geopolitical just forward for the people who are who are going to be leading the current intervention in libya and we've seen obviously a lot of covert intervention going on behind the scenes before and during this crude humanitarian intervention so-called and i figure that's exactly what's going to be taking place in syria very geostrategic location starts to become destabilized

with protesters promising to return and the assad government promising to stop them. martha raddatz, abc news. >>> and from syria now to libya, where the embattled rebel forces there found a powerful ally today. senator john mccain, who was there, calling on the world to send them more help. and miguel marquez was with him. >> reporter: today, libyans welcomed john mccain, like a long lost family member. the senator had a blunt message for the obama administration. increase support for the rebels or face failure. >> great doubts that gadhafi won't go right now because it is essentially a stalemate. >> reporter: mccain, a former navy pilot, says there are several things, without putting boots on the ground, the u.s. can do to force gadhafi out. including recognizing the rebels as the official government of libya. and providing more u.s. air support. >> what does happen here will be paid attention to by other dictators who are willing to brutalize and kill their own citizens in order to remain in power. >> reporter: the visit of a u.s. senator and the announcement that

the origin of that interview with julian assad is coming your way monday here are two. russian oil producers wall have to come up with a new plan to make a big profit as authorities are cutting their exports much lower prices on the domestic market had many of them selling abroad and forgetting about global demand as a result petrol stations have been drying out and pump prices have skyrocketed our season is how you know a couple fires are by the world's biggest oil producer is running on empty. russia with no sounds ridiculous yet what it is we want to five different gas stations all of them were closed here would be willing in line for hours when it is this isn't this supposed to be the oil rich country overnight you prices jumped twenty five percent in several russian regions as the battle runs out the prize goes out even more their supplies enough only for two weeks all prices skyrocket at the beginning of the year but russian authorities made an effort to get battle costs at a consumer friendly level as a result foreign markets begin much more attractive and profit

effective manner in terms of intervening because on like egypt the military and the police support assad and similarly in terms of their rhetoric they would like you know saudis and the far. but how do we know i mean for gosh sakes i mean when we went into libya the reason that that we know that we did it is the arab league asked us to go in so we did not want to have a situation where the united states particularly did those see them as a war hero our way good you should have been the way let me finish ok let me finish i don't interrupt you ok let's look ok well let me finish here let me finish here you know i mean make my point ok well let me finish i don't interrupt through when you're speaking ok i'm saying that the united states does know there's no way in which the west can interfere in syria without making the situation worse on the ground rhetorical they are saying they have condemned what assad is doing but in terms of the ability to do something it's not like libya where you had the rebels have taken control we're able to jump in right here we have to go to a break after that b

states and the hope is that european countries would follow suit as it is members of president bashar assad and members of that regime have more assets in europe then they do in the united states in addition to this in another example of the increased diplomatic activity and a call for sanctions against syria we are seeing in the u.n. security council debate over a draft statement that was for restraint and also condemns the violence and it does see a stage for the eventual imposition of sanctions against the country it's thirty backs of course by the u.n. secretary general banking moon for an investigation into the killings against this backdrop that there is more and more concern being expressed by exposing the international community that not only the increased diplomatic activity against the country but also the possibility of a future intervention and that this will spark a reaction from arab states in washington and brussels i guess there are a lot of concerns about the fact that syria are like libya is part of an alliance and that iran's is very wide it begins in iran. elements in ir

states and the hope is that european countries would follow suit as it is members of president bashar assad and members of that regime have more assets in europe than they do in the united states in addition to this in a nother example of the increased diplomatic activity and a call for sanctions against syria we are seeing in the u.n. security council debate over a draft statement that calls for restraint and also condemns the violence now that statement was introduced on monday it was introduced by four european members that include bush and france germany and portugal and it does see the stage for the eventual imposition of sanctions against the country it's thirty backs of course by the un secretary-general ban ki moon for any investigation into the killings against this backdrop there is more and more concern being expressed by experts in the international community that not only the increased diplomatic activity against the country but also the possibility of a future intervention and that this will spark a reaction from arab states let's take a listen. look in washington and in bruss

capital damascus police used tear gas to disperse a crowd of protesters opposition promised president assad the biggest rally yet following a series of killings of demonstrators. the bloody crackdown has caused international condemnation with the u.s. even pointing at iranian interference on the side of the government parties are in a delusional look at what those accusations could mean for iran. some like it hot but this spring things have heated out perhaps too much in the arab world is it's too easy a libya now is syria more than african region and the middle east and often brutal civil wars with the western powers playing an important hand some believe this won't stop anytime soon so who is next in line for the great upheaval in the region the answer may lie on the surface. president assad is disingenuously blaming outsiders while at the same time seeking a rainy and assistance in repressing syria's citizens this need to be a thinly veiled hint that's where exactly the united states is looking to get involved i think has been targeted for some time now and if you watch the propaganda ab

is calling for sanctions against syria blaming president assad for turning to iran in a way they could unite the two against israel washington's closest ally in the region or he's really delusional looks at the potential for the arab uprisings to spread further east. some like it hot but this spring things have heated up perhaps too much in the arab world is ips libya now syria more than african region and the middle east and often brutal civil wars with the western powers playing an important hand some believe this won't start anytime soon so who is next in line for the greater evil in the region the answer may lie on the surface. that president assad is disingenuously blaming outsiders while at the same time seeking a rainy in assistance in repressing syria's citizens this need to be a thinly veiled hint it's where exactly the united states is looking to get involved i think iran has been targeted for some time now and if you watch the propaganda about syria washington is now claiming. iran is helping syria oppress protesters which different about syria. protesters in both cases real

is calling for a sanctions against syria claiming president assad blaming president assad for turning to iran in a way that could unite the two against israel washington's closest ally in the region or he's really glue show looks at the potential for the arab uprisings to spread further east. some like it hot but this string of things have heated up perhaps too much in the arab world egypt's sneezy a libya now syria northern african region and the middle east and often brutal civil wars with the western powers playing an important hand some believe this won't stop anytime soon so who is next in line for the great upheaval in the region the answer may lie on the surface. president assad is disingenuously blaming outsiders while at the same time seeking a rainy an assistance in repressing syria's citizens this need to be a thinly veiled hint that's where exactly the united states is looking to get involved i think around has been targeted for some time and if you watch the propaganda about syria washington is now claiming. it is helping syria oppress protesters what's different about sy

and really what's the full version of that interview with you in assad's on monday here not. cutting a petrol exports after fuel shortages hit the home market as a result pump prices are burning a bigger hole than motorists pockets inside of the cave and the except why the world's biggest oil producer is spawning itself there without. russia with no sounds ridiculous yet change what it is that we want to five different gas stations that were closed here would be willing to lie for hours what is this isn't the supposedly the oil rich country doing it overnight fuel prices jumped twenty five percent in several russian regions as the battle runs out the price goes up even more their supplies enough only for two weeks while prices skyrocket at the beginning of the year that russian authorities made an effort to keep battle costs at a consumer friendly level as a result foreign markets became much more attractive and profitable for russia will that he says. we understand that people have the right to demand for oil prices well what's been the us today in russia eventually is the k

it cannot be worse than assad and will be much better. the arguments that we should wait and see are, in my opinion, moral and strategic nonsense when you look at the record of assad. he is iran's most important arab ally; in some senses iran's only real arab ally and the strategic linchpin between iran and its terrorist problg is is -- proxies hamas and hezbollah. assad is responsible for a terrible campaign long-standing of intimidation and destabilization of lebanon and the blood of lebanese leaders, too many of them, is on his hands, including that of the great lebanese leader rafik herari. as senator cornyn said, assad also has the blood of countless american soldiers on his hands, having allowed syria to be used for years by foreign extremist fighters affiliated with al qaeda and their link to head to iraq to attack and kill americans and iraqis. and finally, let's not forget syria's illegal nuclear activities. this is a regime that tried to build a secret nuclear reactor, and they did so with help from north korea. this is a regime

i think this is an example of a successful syrian resolution against assad. the one or two comments -- we are getting news -- friday, which is normally a day in syria -- he says he is syrian but he has no rights, like all other normal syrians. that's why he's going to protest. these are the type of commons we are getting. >> a fascinating. we will keep watching what is happening in syria and in yemen through the day. his wedding date is drawing near'and prince s knees are beginning to tremble. they get married and 1 billion people around the world are expected to be watching. the prince says he is nervous and excited and just a little bit relieved, too, after he managed to keep the media away from his stag party. this report does contain some. flash. or prince day job f william. this is a training exercise. a real rescue, could range from many things. the work is now a welcome distraction from letting the nerves -- from the wedding nerves. >> it's a daunting prospect, but quite exciting. i'm looking forward to it. >> there was a touch of smugness about the se

issues with assad is not considered he's not out there the way the has been alienated everybody well clearly we want to get rid of gadhafi. so we're in the side of those who would like to see more progress turn government in power well he is indeed a brutal dictator. creatures very nasty and and one could indeed make the case perhaps that this intervention and then the massacre that's not the actual reason that when you look at the united states britain france i mean all three countries that have led this effort have supported governments that have also been to killed hundreds if not thousands of those innocent civilians those professor stephen buenas professor of politics and chair of middle eastern studies at the university of san francisco and as you pointed out when it comes to african dictators and their relationship with washington while some have their assets frozen faced embargoes even air strikes others do enjoy a warm and fuzzy relationship with u.s. diplomats so how does this happen well arty's kalen for took a look at the role of washington's p.r. machine k. street lobbyi

by following the path of gadhafi and deploying military forces to crush peaceful demonstrations all assad and those loyal to him have lost the legitimacy to remain in power in syria but senators said we urge the president to state unequivocally as he did in the case of gadhafi and hosni mubarak that it is time for syrian president bashir al assad to go so i'm wondering what you think about this i mean do you think there's any way that syria would be the next libya. i think that's very much what it appears to be and we can see that actually from john mccain who is on the board of the international republican institute and the new york times just calmly admitted in mid april that the international republican institute is one of the organizations that has been funding these so-called spontaneous grassroots uprisings in the arab spring so he obviously has a vested interest in what he's talking about there and i think we've seen the president in libya with the way that the sanctions speaking in a no fly zone became bombing but not to get rid of gadhafi and then and then that was changed when o