Main focus of Monday, August 1, 2011

World ignores massacre in Syria

According to eyewitness accounts the Syrian army killed dozens of people on Sunday during an offensive against the rebel stronghold of Hama and other cities. The press condemns the international community for months of inactivity as President Bashar al-Assad continues his atrocities, and fears the end of the Arab Spring.

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

After the Syrian army's massacre in Hama the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung warns the West not to turn its back on Syria: "America, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn the violence in Hama, but Assad need not fear much worse from the West. The most recent events in Libya are likely to have destroyed any desire the West had for greater involvement. In the rebel stronghold of Bengasi the fighters are once again at each others' throats, which rather reduces the chances of a quick victory over Gaddafi, the brute of Tripoli. We can lament this state of affairs, curse it and weep over it. But there's one thing the West should not do now: turn its back in frustration at the slow-motion explosion of the Arab summer." (01/08/2011)

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » Syria

El País - Spain

The international community is barely reacting to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's brutal treatment of his own people, the left-liberal daily El País laments: "The international community has no intention of intervening in the same way as it did in Libya. The fear of further destabilising the Middle East - a region where Damascus has a decisive influence - and China and Russia's blockade of any major initiatives against the regime is giving Assad free rein to keep attacking his own people. Having enjoyed the support of the army and the police so far the only thing driving the tyrant to despair is the courage of thousands of his citizens. They are challenging the security forces completely unarmed in Hama after having previously done so in Damascus, Deraa and Banias."  (01/08/2011)

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Social movements, » Russia, » China, » Syria

La Stampa - Italy

The Syrian president's brutal treatment of his people could spell the end of the Arab Spring, the liberal daily La Stampa fears: "The time has been cleverly chosen. The attention of the international community is focused elsewhere. US President Obama has been left weakened by the danger of state bankruptcy. ... Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan, whom the West entrusted with the task of admonishing the hot-blooded Assad brothers every now and then, is embroiled in a conflict with his generals who jointly resigned on Friday. And in Cairo the trial against [ex-president] Mubarak is due to begin in two days' time. ... This could officially put the Tahrir Square revolution in the hands of the Muslim Brothers. ... Bashar al-Assad knows that this is the right moment. He no doubt wants a place in the history books too. If he manages to suppress the revolt in Syria Damascus will legitimately be able to claim to have put an end in the autumn to the revolutions that began in the spring." (01/08/2011)

» full article (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Turkey, » Egypt, » Syria
All available articles from » Lucia Annunziata

De Morgen - Belgium

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad must answer for his attacks on the population of the rebel stronghold of Hama in the International Criminal Court, writes the left-liberal daily De Morgen: "The violence shows that the Assad regime has its back to the wall. It is clinging on to power tooth and nail, and is leading a dirty war against its own population. The absolute low point came with the murder of thirteen-year-old Hamza al-Khatib. The child was tortured for a whole month before being shot three times in the chest. ... His corpse showed traces of burn marks from electric shocks on his feet, elbows and knees , and his penis was cut off. If the International community refuses to intervene due to geopolitical or other reasons, we can only hope the demonstrators will be able to topple Bashar. And that unlike his uncle, the dictator will not end up in some chic London district but before the International Criminal Court." (01/08/2011)

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Human rights, » Syria
All available articles from » Steven Samyn

» To the complete press review of Monday, August 1, 2011