SBS Dateline | Saving Syria

Haitham Al Maleh is preparing himself to be the next Syrian president, but he says he’s also number one on the Syrian regime’s hitlist for assassination.

Al Maleh is a leading figure in Syria’s opposition, known as the country’s father of human rights, who’s spent many years in prison for his work.

Yaara Bou Melhem gets close-up access to him in exile in Cairo, as he works to arm and finance the Free Syrian Army in its fight against the Assad regime and its violent crackdown on opposition.

But at the age of 81 and constantly fearing for his life, will he ever see a free Syria?

WATCH - Click to see Yaara's story, which subsequently won a United Nations Australia Media Peace Award in October 2012.

BLOG - Yaara writes for the Dateline blog about the huge task ahead for Haitham Al Maleh and Syria's opposition.

INTERACTIVE - Use our interactive guide to get the latest situation in countries across the Arab world, including Dateline's coverage of the recent unrest.

REPLAY - See Dateline's previous stories from Syria, including Yaara's award-winning report, Freedom's Call, from February 2011, which also featured Haitham Al Maleh.

PHOTO GALLERY - Look at some of the confronting images of events in Syria since the uprising began in March 2011.

WORLD NEWS AUSTRALIA - SBS News has a special section looking at the unrest in Syria and the turbulent times over the past year.

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Photo (Syrian flag): AAP