BRUTAL

Syria Clamps Down on Protests

Sens. McCain and Graham call for arming rebels.

Security forces made a show of force in the Syrian capital Sunday after protesters took to the streets the day before in opposition to President Bashar al-Assad. Police vehicles ringed the funeral of a man who was shot down by security forces during the previous day's unrest, while militia loyal to the regime patrolled neighborhoods on foot and in trucks, checking documents. They seemed determined to not allow protests like Saturday’s, which were the largest in the capital in almost a year, to happen again. Meanwhile, international leaders have expressed their outrage at events in Syria, with British foreign minister William Hague telling the BBC that he fears “Syria is going to slide into a civil war.” In the U.S., Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham both called for the Obama administration to arm the Syrian rebels, possibly through the Arab League.