Those demonstrations in turn led to a brutal crackdown by the regime that set off further uprising and revolution.

Nothing short of a brutal comprehensive crackdown would work.

The next year, however, he began a long and brutal crackdown on suspected Islamic fundamentalists that has even extended to their families.

The attacks precipitated a major, and brutal, Yugoslav military crackdown.

In the face of these protests, the Qaddafi regime responded with brutal crackdowns.

Put in charge of Tibet, the young politician turned against his mentor and led a brutal crackdown on dissidents.

Authorities then launched a "brutal" crackdown on protesters, including doctors and bloggers.

It was he who had masterminded the brutal crackdown against the national separatists in his own native Ukraine.

It has to be clear to the Chinese, though, that their brutal crackdown on the democracy movement was and remains intolerable, an official said.

The brutal crackdown launched by the security services in the southern city helped trigger the recent nationwide unrest.