Violence in Syria

As news of the deaths of The Times journalist, Marie Colvin, and young photographer, Remi Ochlik, spread, the media's attention turns ever more to Syrian violence. Colvin, described by the Sunday Times editor, John Witherow, as 'one of the greatest foreign correspondents of her generation' was killed as she tried to retrieve her shoes. She and French photographer Remi Ochlik had entered a building housing a rebel press centre in Babr Amr, and had followed the Middle Eastern custom of removing their shoes. As Colvin tried to collect her shoes in order to escape, a rocket fell a few yards away from her at the front of the building. Both Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik were killed during this attack, but it was only one of many recent Syrian government bombardments on civilian areas, particularly Homs.
Colvin's final report demonstrates the suffering of the Syrian people by their president Bashar al-Assad.http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/news/article874796.ece

Marie Colvin 1956-2012

Remi Ochlik 1983-2012

 
Alongside the deaths of Colvin and Ochlik, friday's 'Friends of Syria' conference in Tunisia made little progress as Russia and China voted against the UN resolution to condemn the violence- actions described by Hilary Clinton as 'despicable'.

Bashar al-Assad

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/26/syria-referendum-constitution-homs-shelling
As the shelling of Homs continues, Syria votes for a referendum that could see Assad remain Syrian president until 2028. The nature of this voting is high questionable, as civilians in rebel areas remain trapped in constantly shelled areas, voting is something these people can obviously not do. The question remains what can the United Nations do about this crisis, particularly as violence against journalists reduces our spectrum on what is really happening and increasing injustices are hidden?