A group of some 70 Syrian men and children held a protest in Valletta this morning, calling for international intervention to stop the killing of protesters in their country and to force Syrian President Assad to quit.
The protest contrasted sharply with the Christmas spirit in Republic Street, where Christmas carols were being broadcast on loudspeakers and the street was busy with Christmas shoppers.
Some of those present carried placards calling on Nato, the US, the UN and the EU to heed the Syrian people. They pointed out that some 5,000 have been killed there so far, with one placard asking -' What will it take for you to intervene?'
Comparisons were also drawn with the situation in Libya where the international community intervened under a UN mandate 'to protect civilians'.