iPlayer Radio What's New?
Speaker icon LISTEN
Show more Show less
23/05/2013

World Have Your Say The BBC news programme where you set the agenda.

ON NEXT : 12:01 BBC News

Witness

Image for The Damascus Spring

Play now 10 mins

The Damascus Spring

Duration:
10 minutes
First broadcast:
Thursday 23 February 2012

Twelve years ago following the death of President Hafez al-Assad, Syria experienced a brief burst of freedom.

When his son Bashar, first came to power he promised democracy and change.

For a few months opposition politicians were allowed to meet and speak openly.

Photo: Bashar al-Assad (l) Hafez al-Assad (r). Credit: AFP

  • Guide: Syria Crisis

    Guide: Syria Crisis

    A guide to the Syrian protests, which pose the greatest challenge to four decades of rule by the Assad family in Syria

    Read more on the BBC News website

Free downloads

  1. Image for Sporting Witness

    Sporting Witness

    Key moments from sporting history as told by the people who were there.

  2. Image for Witness

    Witness

    History as told by the people who were there. Witness talks to people who lived through moments...

  3. Image for Witness Archive 2010

    Witness Archive 2010

    Witness - history as told by the people who were there. Five days a week we will be talking to...

  4. Image for Witness Archive 2011

    Witness Archive 2011

    Witness - history as told by the people who were there. Five days a week we will be talking to...

  5. Image for Witness Archive 2012

    Witness Archive 2012

    Witness - history as told by the people who were there. Five days a week we will be talking to...

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.