Politics of Syria | GlobalPost

Syrian opposition to meet to decide whether to join peace talks

Thomson ReutersMay 12, 2013 12:15

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis AMMAN (Reuters) - Syria's opposition coalition will meet in Istanbul on May 23 to decide whether to participate in a U.S. and Russian-sponsored conference to try to end the Syrian civil war, coalition officials said on Sunday.

Iran condemns 'savage' attack in Turkey

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 05:00

Iran has condemned as a "savage terrorist crime" twin car bomb attacks which killed 43 people and injured dozens in a small Turkish town near the Syrian border, media reported on Sunday. The state broadcaster's website quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as saying that "confronting terrorism is the duty of all countries". "This act was a savage terrorist crime and such crimes which target ordinary people are condemned everywhere in the world," Araqchi said.

Russian relations with Syria since uprising began

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 14:45

Syria, which has been rocked by a revolt against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad since March 2011, has close links with Russia, an ally since Soviet times from which it buys most of its arms. Moscow has drawn Western criticism for its dogged support for the Damascus government even as the death toll has risen to more than 70,000. Following is a timeline of key developments: -- 2011 -- - April 27: Russia and China block a declaration submitted by Western countries at the UN condemning repression of peaceful protests by Assad's government.

Israeli strikes in Syria could put more pressure on Obama: McCain

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 10:55

By Deborah Charles and Caren Bohan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israel's air strikes on Syria could add pressure on the Obama administration to intervene in Syria, a key Republican said on Sunday, but the U.S. government faces tough questions on how it can help without adding to the conflict. Hours after Israeli jets bombed Syria on Sunday for the second time in 48 hours, several top U.S. lawmakers voiced concern over the cascading uncertainty in the Middle East where a civil war has been raging in Syria for more than two years.

Kerry to 'make another stab' at Syria deal with Russia

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 10:29

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will "make another stab" at seeing if the United States and Russia can work together to find a political solution to end Syria's civil war when he visits Moscow this week, a senior U.S. official said on Monday. Kerry departs for Moscow on Monday afternoon and is scheduled to see Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss a wide range of issues including the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs, Afghanistan and U.S.-Russian trade.

US Democrat offers bill to arm Syrian opposition

Agence France-PresseMay 6, 2013 17:31

A top US Senate Democrat introduced a bill Monday that authorizes arming rebels in Syria, a step Washington has been weighing after President Barack Obama said the Damascus regime may have used chemical weapons. Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Syria Stabilization Act of 2013 that would give "increased authorization to provide lethal and non-lethal assistance to Syrian armed opposition."

Israel raids on Syria killed at least 15 soldiers

Agence France-PresseMay 6, 2013 05:30

Israeli strikes on Syrian military targets at the weekend killed at least 15 soldiers and dozens more were unaccounted for, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog said on Monday. "At least 15 soldiers were killed, and dozens more are missing" after the strikes near Damascus early on Sunday, said the Observatory's Rami Abdel Rahman. "These three sites (targeted) would usually have around 150 soldiers in them, but it's not clear if they were all there at the time of the strikes."

Obama: U.S. troops in Syria not a good option

Agencia EFEMay 4, 2013 12:46

San Jose, May 4 (EFE).- U.S. President Barack Obama said the possibility of deploying American troops to Syria is an option that is not in the interests of the United States nor the people of that Arab nation. Any measure taken by the United States to address the crisis in Syria will be based "on the facts on the ground" and on "what's in the interests of the American people and our national security," Obama said in a press conference during a visit to Costa Rica on Friday.

Policeman killed, six wounded in Turkey-Syria border clash

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 11:15

One police officer was killed and six other people wounded Thursday after Syrians trying to cross into Turkey randomly opened fire in a border buffer-zone, officials said. It started as a "minor stone-and-stick clash" when Turkish authorities issued warnings to a large group of Syrians trying to cross the border without passport, said Abdulhakim Ayhan, mayor of the border town of Akcakale. The police officer died in hospital while four more security officers and two civilians escaped with more minor injuries, according to hospital sources.

Seven wounded by Syrian fire at Turkish border

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 08:00

Five Turkish security officers and two civilians were wounded on Thursday after Syrians trying to cross over into Turkey randomly opened fired in a border buffer-zone, officials said. "It started as a minor stone-and-stick clash when our security forces warned Syrians," who were trying to cross the common border in large numbers, said Abdulhakim Ayhan, mayor of the border town of Akcakale. "One police officer is severely injured and the other six were mildly hurt," the mayor added.