The Arab Revolution of 2011

In this citizen journalism image made on a mobile phone and acquired by the AP, a Syrian boy carries a banner during an anti-government demonstration in the coastal city of Banias, Syria, Friday, April 22, 2011. Syrian security forces fired live bullets and tear gas Friday at tens of thousands of people shouting for freedom and democracy, wounding about 10 people on a day that could be a major test of whether President Bashar Assad's promises of sweeping reform will quell the monthlong uprising. (AP Photo)

Supporters of an Islamic group, hold up an Arabic banner reading: 'A traitor he who kills his people,' as they protest against the Syrian regime, in the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon, on Friday April 22, 2011. The demonstration in support of the 'Syrian people' was called for by the Tahrir Party. It was not granted a license from the interior ministry. Syrian security forces have launched a deadly crackdown on demonstrations that started last month, killing more than 200 people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Syrian protester, with her face painted with the colours of the national flag, shouts slogans calling for President Bashar Assad to step down during a protest in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan, Sunday, April, 17, 2011. The demonstrations come despite promises by Assad to end the widely despised state of emergency rule by next week at the latest, and implement other reforms following more than a month of unprecedented, and growing, demonstrations. (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)

Syrian protesters shouts slogans calling for President Bashar Assad to step down during a protest in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan, Sunday, April 17, 2011. The demonstrations come despite promises by Assad to end the widely despised state of emergency rule by next week at the latest, and implement other reforms following more than a month of unprecedented, and growing, demonstrations. (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)

A Syrian protester flashes the victory sign during a protest calling for President Bashar Assad to step down in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan, Sunday, April 17, 2011. The demonstrations come despite promises by Assad to end the widely despised state of emergency rule by next week at the latest, and implement other reforms following more than a month of unprecedented, and growing, demonstrations. (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)

A Syrian protester, with his face painted with the national flag colors, shouts slogans calling for President Bashar Assad to step down during a protest in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan, Sunday, April 17, 2011. The demonstrations come despite promises by Assad to end the widely despised state of emergency rule by next week at the latest, and implement other reforms following more than a month of unprecedented, and growing, demonstrations. (AP Photo/Nader Da

Syrian protesters shout slogans calling for President Bashar Assad to step down during a protest in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan, Sunday, April 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)

In this image from Syrian state television President Bashar Assad makes a speech in front of his cabinet in Damasus, Syria Saturday April 16 2011. Assad said he expects the government to lift the country's decades-old emergency laws next week. Lifting the state of emergency has been a key demand during a wave of protests over the past four weeks, which have posed the most serious challenge yet to Assad's authoritarian regime. (AP Photo/ Syrian TV via APTN)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, background center, heads the first new cabinet meeting, in Damascus, Syria, on Saturday April 16, 2011. Syria's president said Saturday he expects the government to lift a state of emergency that has been in effect for nearly 50 years, a key demand by a monthlong protest movement that has posed the most serious challenge to the country's authoritarian regime. (AP Photo/SANA)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, center, poses with the new Syrian cabinet, in Damascus, Syria, on Saturday April 16, 2011. Syria's president said Saturday he expects the government to lift a state of emergency that has been in effect for nearly 50 years, a key demand by a monthlong protest movement that has posed the most serious challenge to the country's authoritarian regime. (AP Photo/SANA)

This is a Wednesday, March 30, 2011 file photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, of Syrian President Bashar Assad, addressing the Parliament, in Damascus, Syria. Syria's president said Saturday April 16, 2011 that he expects state of emergency laws to be lifted by next week (AP Photo/SANA, File)

In this citizen journalism image made on a mobile phone and acquired by the AP, Syrian women attend an anti-government protest in Banias, Syria, Saturday, April 16, 2011. President Bashar Assad was expected to appear in a televised speech, witnesses said. The speech will be Assad's second public appearance since the country's protest movement began a month ago. (AP Photo)

In this citizen journalism image made on a mobile phone and acquired by the AP, Syrian women attend an anti-government protest in Banias, Syria, Saturday, April 16, 2011. President Bashar Assad was expected to appear in a televised speech The speech will be Assad's second public appearance since the country's protest movement began a month ago. (AP Photo)