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Hamdallah becomes first Palestinian PM to visit Al-Aqsa

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 16:00
New Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah visited Al-Aqsa mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem on Sunday, in a first for a serving Palestinian premier, the official WAFA news agency reported. Al-Aqsa, Islam's third holiest site, is built on the site of the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. "Jerusalem is a symbol of the Palestinian question," Hamdallah told the agency. "Our visit today shows how important Jerusalem is to the Palestinian government."

Jordan can protect itself from Syria war threats

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 16:00
King Abdullah II vowed Sunday to protect Jordan from the war in Syria, after the United States announced its warplanes and missiles will remain in the kingdom at the end of military exercises. "Should the world not act and help us adequately address this issue, and should this issue become a threat... then we are capable at any time to take the necessary measures to protect our country and people's interests," said the Jordanian ruler.

Canada pledges Jordan $24 mn to help Syria refugees

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 14:30
Canada on Sunday pledged 25 million Canadian dollars ($24.58 million) to Jordan to help the kingdom cope with the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who have fled there, state media reported. "Following a meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird announced today a direct assistance of $25 million to the government help the refugees," state-run Petra news agency said.

Rebel brigades check loyalist advances in Aleppo: opposition

June 16, 2013 12:30
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis AMMAN (Reuters) - Rebel brigades fought Hezbollah-backed forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in and around Syria's commercial hub of Aleppo on Sunday, trying to claw back territory lost to an assault that threatens the opposition's grip on the city, activists said. Rebel brigades poured into Aleppo last July and have more than half the city under their control. But pro-Assad forces have deployed there in the past three weeks, suggesting a push to retake the city could be under way.

Gunmen kill four Shi'ite Lebanese in Bekaa Valley

June 16, 2013 12:00
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Gunmen shot dead four Shi'ite Muslim men in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley in an ambush on Sunday, security sources said, in the latest sectarian violence close to the border with Syria. The civil war just a few miles across the border in Syria has inflamed tensions in the Bekaa Valley, where Sunni Muslims who support the uprising against Bashar al-Assad live close to Shi'ites who back the Syrian president.

Gunmen kill four Lebanese Shiites: security source

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 11:31
Unidentified gunmen killed four Shiites in the Bekaa region of eastern Lebanon on Sunday, a security source told AFP, as the conflict in Syria raised fresh tensions in its neighbour. "Gunmen killed three members of the Jaafar family and a man from the Amhaz family as they were passing through the Qaa area of the Bekaa," the source said, referring to two Lebanese Shiite clans. A fifth man was seriously wounded in the incident, he said. "The five men were smuggling fuel when they were ambushed," the source said.

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.

Jordan can protect itself from Syria war threats

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 10:00
King Abdullah II vowed Sunday to protect Jordan from the war in Syria, after the United States announced its warplanes and missiles will remain in the kingdom at the end of military exercises. "Should the world not act and help us adequately address this issue, and should this issue become a threat... then we are capable at any time to take the necessary measures to protect our country and people's interests," said the Jordanian ruler.

Syria condemns 'irresponsible' Egypt move to cut ties

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 09:00
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, accusing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi of involvement in a "conspiracy... against Syria." bur-sah/dv

Jordan ready to fight any threat from Syrian conflict: king

June 16, 2013 06:45
AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah said on Sunday the kingdom was ready to fight to protect itself against any threat to its security from the escalating civil war in neighboring Syria. He was speaking as Jordanian and U.S. forces proceeded with joint military exercises with the participation of 17 other countries. Diplomats say the exercises, which entered their second week, aim to send a strong message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
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