Despite the presence of UN observers across Syria, violence continues with daily attacks, including last week’s blasts in Damascus, and there are fears that al-Qaeda may exploit the instability in Syria.

During 18-23 April the CMEC Deputy Chairman, Adam Holloway MP and Director, Leo Docherty travelled to Lebanon to meet with a broad range of Syrian refugees, Syrian opposition activists and members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), in order to gain a deeper understanding of the ground level situation. The meetings took place in Beirut, Tripoli, the Bekaa valley and the unstable Syrian border area.
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We look at which figures from Middle Eastern politics and cultural life have been included in TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World in 2012″ list.

Leon Goldsmith of Otago University examines the loyalty of Syria’s Alawites to the Assad regime and questions the notion that a rich, privileged Alawite class dominates the country.

Writing exclusively for CMEC, Shashank Joshi from the Royal United Services Institute considers whether the Arab League can be an effective actor in the Middle East following the events of the Arab awakening and recent turmoil in Syria.

The Economist argues that although the Syrian regime is winning battles, it is losing the war for its survival.

Shashank Joshi argues that destruction of the defiant city will underscore the futility of negotiations with the regime.

Tony Karon asks whether Hamas’ decision to leave Damascus and move away from Iran will please Israel or the US.

Watch the last despatch of The Sunday Times journalist, Marie Colvin, who was killed today in shelling in Homs.

Middle East analyst, Anoushka Kurkjian, writes for CMEC on stalemate in Syria and asks what the future holds for the Assad regime and the Free Syria Army.