The Australian is among a group of 34 women and children who had planned to fly from Damascus to Australia on Monday but were turned back by Syrian authorities to the Roj detention camp due to procedural problems.

Syrian surgeon Bachar Alkaderi, trained in Cuba and now a rebel commander, warns that after the overthrow of the Assad regime, 'the revolution must be protected from its own children.'

The Damascus book fair is attracting large crowds, with reports indicating a relaxation of censorship in post-Assad Syria, allowing for a broader range of literary works.

The Damascus book fair is drawing crowds, reflecting a reported easing of censorship in Syria following the Assad era.