A Syrian human rights defender who spent three years in jail under the Assad regime has appealed to the public in Ireland and other European countries for understanding for refugees.

NEARLY 200 critics of President Bashar Assad met yesterday in the Syrian capital for the first time during the three-month uprising against his rule, in a government-sanctioned gathering some activists complained would be exploited to give legitimacy to the regime.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese has urged governments to do more to protect human rights workers under threat in their own countries.

A Syrian human rights lawyer imprisoned for defending political prisoners will be honoured in Dublin today.