Syrian dreams

11 April 2011 By Una Galani Follow @ugalani

Bashar alAssad’s regime had an ambitious plan to quadruple foreign investment and boost tourism in order to drive growth in a poor country with dwindling oil. But the violent suppression of protestors will scare off both investors and tourists.

This content is for Subscribers only

Context News

A Syrian rights group accused state security forces on April 9 of committing a crime against humanity, saying they had killed at least 37 people during Friday's demonstrations across the country. The National Organisation for Human Rights said that 30 people were killed in the southern city of Deraa, the centre of protests. Three more people died in the central city of Homs and three in Harasta, a Damascus suburb, as well as one in Douma.

The United States has issued a travel warning advising citizens to defer all nonessential travel to the country.

Syria has been rocked by protests since last month amid growing frustration against the rule of Bashar alAssad, whose family has ruled the country for 41 years.

Email a friend

Please complete the form below.

Required fields *