“Nothing frightening” seen in Syria protest hotbed: monitor

(Reuters) - The chief Arab League monitor in Syria said he saw “nothing frightening” on a first visit to the battered protest hotbed of Homs but France called his remarks premature and urged Syria to guarantee his team free movement.

The second day of monitoring hit a snag when locals in the Homs neighborhood of Baba Amr, that has been pounded by tanks in a military crackdown on popular unrest, refused to speak with the observers in the presence of a Syrian army colonel.

The monitors aborted the visit to the district, where dozens of protesters have been killed by government tanks and snipers, and armed insurgents have shot back to protect the locals.

What a waste of time. As soon as the Arab League monitors leave the killings will go on again.