For nearly 40 years, president Bashar al-Assad and his family have ruled Syria with an iron grip.

Now the president is possibly facing a threat against his regime like never before. Syrians are looking at a region that's unraveling before their eyes. 

From Algeria to Egypt from Saudi Arabia to Yemen, waves of protests against autocratic dictators.  Experts wonder if Syria will be the next Arab regime to fall. 

President Assad has made a string of gestures in recent days hinting at change but has failed to appease protesters who are demanding greater freedom and political reform. 

The Facebook group, The Syria Revolution 2011, has called for the start of “Martyrs Week,” a series of rallies to honor those killed by government forces. 

CBN News Sr. International Correspondent George Thomas spoke with Ribal al-Assad, the first cousin of president Bashar al-Assad. Assad is the founder and director of the London-based Organization for Democracy and Freedom in Syria. He has a stern warning for the Syrian president:  demonstrate tangible reforms or step down. Click to watch.