Two months on and the crackdown against protesters in Syria continues. President Bashar al-Assad's government is mobilising more troops around the country as it ups its effort to crush anti-government protests.

On Wednesday an opposition call for a one day nationwide strike went largely unheeded. The reason, according to people on the streets, was fear.

On the ground, tanks stormed a city in the south and civilians are fleeing across the border. They describe execution-style slayings.

There are also claims that at least two mass graves have been discovered in the southern town of Deraa. The international community continues to condemn the violence. On Wednesday the tone rose sharply, with the EU and US saying new steps will be taken. 

But is the international community doing enough, and will more sanctions work? 
 
Inside Story, with presenter Dareen Abughaida, discusses with Najib Ghadbian, a professor of political science at the University of Arkansas; Nabilia Ramdani, a Middle East analyst; and Richard Murphy, the former US ambassador to Syria. 

This episode of Inside Story aired from Wednesday, May 18, 2011.