Middle East: Beginning in Syria, women cycle across the region for peace

The cycle ride is organized for the third subsequent year by a private mobile company Areeba along with the Syrian Body for Family Affairs, under the auspices of Asma Assad, the wife of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The twelve-day peace ride runs under the title 'Follow the Women - Women for Peace cycle ride.' The route will take in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.

Women from the United States and Britain are among those taking part.

Rita Regan, head of the Association of International Women Peace Campaigners, said the cycle ride aims to 'convey a peace message to all world women and to shed light on the reality of the Arab women in the Middle East, especially those whose countries are under occupation.'