It's part of the "Arab Spring" that's been taking place largely out of Western view. Protesters have been challenging the Syrian government for weeks, despite aggressive efforts by President Bashar al-Assad to stamp out dissent. But details about events on the ground are hard to come by - the ruling regime has essentially banned journalists. We explore what's at stake as unrest grows and the challenges of following the events as they unfold. Katherine Zoepf comments.

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