Protests Spread in Syria

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated across Syria on April 22, calling for an end to the regime of President Bashar al Assad. Protests have been growing in numbers since March 15, and more and more of those taking to the streets have begun to call for regime change, as opposed to mere political reforms. Syria's Alawite regime is faced with a serious dilemma in choosing how to deal with the rising. While al Assad still does not appear to be in imminent jeopardy of losing power, the sectarian fault lines in the country have the potential to rupture, should the demonstrations continue to increase in intensity and scope.