There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity this week on the Syria crisis, with UN-Arab League representative Kofi Annan in the region to try to bring about a halt to the violence. Russia has indicated that it will press Syria to accept international monitors, who could observe the implementation of what the Kremlin calls a simultaneous ceasefire. Turkey is to host a Friends of Syria meeting in early April. And Chinese diplomats are visiting Cairo to speak to the Arab League. But as the diplomats talk, violence in Syria is on the increase.