What's happening in Syria and will the violence end? The
violence in Syria began in March 2011. Since then, an estimated
80,000 people have died in the clashes between President Bashar
al-Assad's government and rebel forces who want him out. In July
2012, the International Red Cross said the violence in Syria had
become so widespread that it was in a state of civil war. But
what are the reasons behind the violence? And what is being done
to stop it getting any worse? How did the protests start? The
trouble began more than two years ago in the Syrian city of
Deraa. Locals took to the streets to protest after 15
schoolchildren had been arrested - and reportedly tortured - for
writing anti-government graffiti on a wall. The protests were
peaceful to begin with, calling for the kids' release, democracy
and greater freedom for people in the country. The government
responded angrily, and on 18 March, the army opened fire on
protesters, killing four people. The following day, they shot at
mourners at the victims' fu