Our schools need to teach Arabic. The act of trying to speak another’s language is a respect, writes Victoria White

Tens of thousands of people chanting “Freedom!” have held protests in several Syrian cities demanding greater reforms than the limited concessions offered by President Bashar Assad.

Syrian security forces have stepped up their presence in the capital and across the country ahead of planned demonstrations to honour those killed in two weeks of protests demanding reforms.

Troops have opened fire on protesters in cities across Syria and pro and anti-government crowds clashed in the capital’s historic old city as one of the Middle East’s most repressive regimes sought to put down demonstrations that exploded nationwide demanding reform.