Middle East | GlobalPost

Syria seeks to bolster Iran ties after Rowhani win

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 11:31

Syria will seek to expand its relations with close ally Iran after moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani's presidential election victory, Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi said on Sunday. "Syria wishes to further expand its relations with the new Iranian leadership," Halqi said as he received a high-level Iranian economic delegation in Damascus, state news agency SANA said. Halqi praised "the strength of strategic and stable relations between Syria and Iran on different levels," as he met a delegation headed by Hassan Kazemi Qomi, an economic adviser at Iran's foreign ministry.

Kuwait court scraps poll, approves electoral law

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 10:00

Kuwait's top court on Sunday scrapped last December's parliamentary election, which was boycotted by the opposition, but approved the controversial electoral law that sparked the boycott. The constitutional court, whose rulings are final, dissolved the current loyalist-dominated parliament and ordered a fresh election, in the verdict read out by presiding judge Yousef al-Mutawah.

Syria condemns 'irresponsible' Egypt move to cut ties

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 10:00

The Syrian government on Sunday condemned Egypt's decision to cut ties with Damascus and back the armed uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, calling it an "irresponsible" move. "The Syrian Arab Republic condemns this irresponsible position," an unnamed Syrian official told state news agency SANA. The official said Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi had joined the "conspiracy and incitement led by the United States and Israel against Syria by announcing the cutting of ties yesterday".

Kuwait court orders dissolution of parliament, new elections

Thomson ReutersJune 16, 2013 06:45

By Sylvia Westall and Mahmoud Harby KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait's top court ordered the dissolution of parliament on Sunday and called for fresh elections, a ruling likely to herald fresh political volatility in the U.S.-allied Gulf Arab state. The Constitutional Court made its ruling after throwing out opposition challenges to changes to the electoral system decreed by the emir, hereditary ruler of the oil-exporting country, head judge Youssef al-Mutawa told reporters.

Kuwait court scraps poll, approves electoral law

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 07:30

Kuwait's constitutional court on Sunday scrapped last December's parliamentary election which was boycotted by the opposition but approved the controversial electoral law that sparked the boycott. The court, whose rulings are final, called for a fresh election to replace the current loyalist-dominated parliament, in the verdict read out by presiding judge Yousef al-Mutawah.

Cameron-Putin talks on Syria to set G8 summit tone

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 06:48

British Prime Minister David Cameron holds talks Sunday with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Syria's civil war, a meeting which could set the tone for the G8 summit, with the West at odds with Moscow over how to handle the conflict. Cameron is seeking to forge a consensus as he hosts the leaders of the world's top industrialised nations in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, from Monday.

Cameron-Putin talks on Syria to set G8 summit tone

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 06:46

British Prime Minister David Cameron meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday for key talks about the conflict in Syria which could set the tone for the G8 summit next week. Cameron will seek to forge a consensus on how to deal with Syria when he hosts the leaders of the world's most industrialised nations in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, from Monday.

Chemical weapons use hampers Syrian deal

Agence France-PresseJune 15, 2013 21:20

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned for the first time Saturday that chances for a political settlement in Syria could be undermined by the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons. Kerry spoke by phone Friday with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari and the pair discussed Syria and talks set to be held on the crisis in Geneva, the State Department said.

Mursi cuts Egypt's Syria ties, backs no-fly zone

Thomson ReutersJune 15, 2013 17:45

By Tom Perry CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi said he had cut all diplomatic ties with Damascus on Saturday and backed a no-fly zone over Syria, pitching the most populous Arab state more firmly against President Bashar al-Assad. Addressing a rally called by Sunni Muslim clerics in Cairo, the Sunni Islamist head of state also warned Assad's ally, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shi'ite militia Hezbollah, to pull back from fighting in Syria.

Egypt's Morsi severs relations with Syria

Agence France-PresseJune 15, 2013 17:47

Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi on Saturday announced the "definitive" severing of relations with war-torn Syria, which is suffering from more than two years of civil war. Egypt "decided today to definitively break off relations with the current regime in Syria, to close that regime's embassy in Cairo and to recall Egypt's charge d'affaires" from Damascus, Morsi told thousands of supporters in a Cairo stadium for a "Support for Syria" rally.