The Arab Spring is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests in the Arab world put on by people who want

change The Arab Spring December 18, 2010. began on

Causes of the Syrian Uprising

Resignation of Bashar al-Assad Democratic reforms Regime change(50 years of rule) Expand civil rights Recognition of Kurdish rights Abolition of the Supreme State Security Court Lifting of the emergency law(48 years)

Syrian Governments Response

Deployment of tanks and snipers as a means to stop protesters Shutting off of water and electricity in certain areas Confiscation of flour and food by the security forces The Syrian Army has surrounded numerous cities According to witness accounts, soldiers who have refused to open fire against civilians were executed by the Syrian Army

 The Arab League, US, EU states, GCC states, and other countries have condemned the use of violence against the protesters. The Arab League suspended Syria's membership over the government's response to the crisis, but sent an observer mission in December 2011, as part of its proposal for peaceful resolution of the crisis.

 Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that proposed a plan for Syrian president Bashar Assad to step down. This greatly upset the US and UN

Concessions given by the Syrian Government

Emergency law lifted Supreme State Security Court abolished 6,259 political prisoners released, out of 30,000 detained General amnesty from 15 March 2011 31 January 2012 Local administration reformed Tax cuts Increase in public sector salary Citizenship granted to some Kurds New constitution ending Ba'ath political monopoly and introducing a term limit for the presidency

 Nominal truce under UN peace plan Attempts to resolve the crisis has been made through the appointment of Kofi Annan, as a UN-Arab League peace envoy to resolve the Syrian crisis in the Middle East.