The Washington Post, Beirut, 27 Dec 2011 – Huge crowds of Syrians gathered in the streets of Homs on Tuesday during a visit by Arab League observers, eager to demonstrate their opposition to the government in an atmosphere of relative safety, organizers said.
A team of 50 observers is charged with assessing whether Syrian authorities are implementing an Arab League agreement to withdraw troops from cities and end a violent crackdown on the protest movement.
The observers are traveling with Syrian security forces, raising doubts for in the opposition as to whether they will be able to monitor the situation effectively.
The relatively small number of monitors – an initial figure of 500 was discussed, of whom only 150 are now likely to enter the country–also has prompted some opposition leaders to dismiss the mission as a waste of time.
“This mission was born dead,” said Wissam Tarif, a human-rights activist with the Avaaz movement.