Syria News | News Date April 29, 2012

News Analysis: Cease-Fire in Syria Buying Time at a Cost

A United Nations-backed plan has failed to stop the fighting, but supporters hope for a chance to organize the opposition, sway Russia and prevent an all-out civil war.

Syrian forces, rebels clash in Latakia

Syrian forces clashed with opposition fighters early Saturday in the coastal city of Latakia, anti-government activists said, further crumbling a shaky cease-fire meant to end 13 months of unrest.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=KaPO2_00HsI:2Whto-d4mbs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=KaPO2_00HsI:2Whto-d4mbs:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=KaPO2_00HsI:2Whto-d4mbs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=KaPO2_00HsI:2Whto-d4mbs:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=KaPO2_00HsI:2Whto-d4mbs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http

Opposition activists: Syrian forces, rebels clash in coastal city

Syrian forces clashed with opposition fighters early Saturday in the coastal city of Latakia, anti-government activists said, further crumbling a shaky cease-fire meant to end 13 months of unrest.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=TMVV6eut6LA:FaflaNSGuDw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=TMVV6eut6LA:FaflaNSGuDw:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=TMVV6eut6LA:FaflaNSGuDw:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=TMVV6eut6LA:FaflaNSGuDw:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=TMVV6eut6LA:FaflaNSGuDw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/

Syria suicide bombing kills nine in Damascus

A bomber strikes outside a mosque in an opposition stronghold of Damascus, the Syrian capital. Bashar Assad's government blames terrorists, but the opposition accuses the government.BEIRUT — Two weeks after a supposed cease-fire was meant to bring an end to violence in Syria, an explosion Friday ripped through the capital, Damascus, killing at least nine people and injuring almost 30.

Syria suicide bombing kills nine in Damascus

A bomber strikes outside a mosque in an opposition stronghold of Damascus, the Syrian capital. Bashar Assad's government blames terrorists, but the opposition accuses the government.BEIRUT — Two weeks after a supposed cease-fire was meant to bring an end to violence in Syria, an explosion Friday ripped through the capital, Damascus, killing at least nine people and injuring almost 30.

U.N. monitors in Syria visit scene of deadly blast

Antigovernment activists say the explosion a day earlier in Hama killed 70 people. The government blames a 'terrorist group' and says 16 people died.BEIRUT — United Nations monitors on Thursday visited the scene of an explosion in the Syrian city of Hama that antigovernment activists said had killed 70 people, many of them women and children.

Suicide Attack Kills 9 Near Damascus as Cease-fire Erodes

A suicide bomber attacked a group of Syrian security forces as state media reported at least two other bombings around the capital.

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Syria News | News Date April 27, 2012

Cease-fire failing, Syria claims escalate

Syrian government officials and the opposition traded accusations over escalated cease-fire violations as a fragile peace deal implemented two weeks ago continued to unravel Friday.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=20kQ8m07Sj4:y_vt6IwuslY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=20kQ8m07Sj4:y_vt6IwuslY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=20kQ8m07Sj4:y_vt6IwuslY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=20kQ8m07Sj4:y_vt6IwuslY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=20kQ8m07Sj4:y_vt6IwuslY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedbu

Syria, opposition trade accusations as Ban urges cease-fire commitment

Syrian government officials and the opposition traded accusations over escalated cease-fire violations as a fragile peace deal implemented two weeks ago continued to unravel Friday.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=PH4uUXAyZUo:UwTMIBQp6cA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=PH4uUXAyZUo:UwTMIBQp6cA:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=PH4uUXAyZUo:UwTMIBQp6cA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=PH4uUXAyZUo:UwTMIBQp6cA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=PH4uUXAyZUo:UwTMIBQp6cA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?

U.S. Is Seeing Positive Signs From Chinese

China’s changing positions on Iran, Syria and North Korea, among others, are hailed as steps toward unity among the world’s major powers, but its motives are a mystery.

U.N. monitors in Syria visit scene of deadly blast

Antigovernment activists say the explosion a day earlier in Hama killed 70 people. The government blames a 'terrorist group' and says 16 people died.BEIRUT — United Nations monitors on Thursday visited the scene of an explosion in the Syrian city of Hama that antigovernment activists said had killed 70 people, many of them women and children.

Syria government foes criticize U.N. monitoring mission

France demands swifter deployment of monitors and raises the prospect of military intervention. Some Syrians say the U.N. presence has worsened the bloodshed.BEIRUT — As violence continues to rage across Syria, the United Nations monitoring mission faced mounting criticism and pressure Wednesday.

Vogue profile of Syrian leader's wife disappears

A flattering Vogue profile of Asma al-Assad, wife of Syria's besieged president Bashar al-Assad, has been removed from the magazine's website, as the government crackdown on dissent rumbles on.

Syria blames ' terrorist' bombs for deadly Hama blast

Syria blamed "terrorist" bomb-makers on Thursday for an explosion that ripped through a building and killed 16 people in the restive city of Hama, where hostility to President Bashar Assad runs deep.

As Syria Burns, Assad Supporters Attack... LinkedIn?

The striking thing about the "Syrian Electronic Army" attack on LinkedIn's blog is that, well, they attacked LinkedIn, which really seems to have very little to do with the conflict in Syria. On Thursday, the Linkedin blog is down, but before it went dark, Silicon Republic's John Kennedy reports, it bore an image of a Syrian flag, with President Bashar al-Assad standing in front of it, and this text : "We are a group of Syrian youth who wanted to show the truth and therefore we used this website which was used to spread lies about Syria. ...

Heavy Casualties Reported in Syria Explosion

Activists said intensive shelling caused the blast, but state media blamed bomb-making by government opponents.

After 70 killed in Syria blast, opposition demands action

In one of the single deadliest incidents in the Syrian conflict, a military rocket attack killed more than 70 people in the flashpoint city of Hama, an activist told CNN on Thursday.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=qu6JF_k5cNM:x3UUvZlA-WU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=qu6JF_k5cNM:x3UUvZlA-WU:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=qu6JF_k5cNM:x3UUvZlA-WU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=qu6JF_k5cNM:x3UUvZlA-WU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=qu6JF_k5cNM:x3UUvZlA-WU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=qj6ID

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Syria News | News Date April 25, 2012

Is Syria refusing some U.N. observers?

U.N.-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan has expressed dismay over reports that the Syrian government resumes brutal attacks on cities once U.N. monitors leave -- the latest sign that diplomatic efforts are failing to quash the bloodshed in the country.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=J4EQzHQz4U0:LGLDcf7Izyw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=J4EQzHQz4U0:LGLDcf7Izyw:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=J4EQzHQz4U0:LGLDcf7Izyw:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=J4EQzHQz4U0:LGLDcf7Izyw:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=J4EQzHQz4U0:LGLDcf7Izyw:qj6IDK7rIT

Syrian opposition: Attacks intensify in cities just visited by U.N. monitors

Renewed terror and violence permeated the Syrian cities of Hama and Douma on Wednesday, just days after U.N. monitors left the areas, opposition activists said.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=rt85NxJC_-I:x8iNggR7-eg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=rt85NxJC_-I:x8iNggR7-eg:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=rt85NxJC_-I:x8iNggR7-eg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=rt85NxJC_-I:x8iNggR7-eg:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=rt85NxJC_-I:x8iNggR7-eg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border

Violence in Syria’s Capital Even With a Cease-Fire

Three members of the Syrian security services were killed in and around Damascus on Tuesday, one of several indications that the cease-fire arranged under United Nations auspices continued to wobble.

U.N. sources: Syria forbids key monitors

U.N.-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan has expressed dismay over reports that the Syrian government resumes brutal attacks on cities once U.N. monitors leave -- the latest sign that diplomatic efforts are failing to quash the bloodshed in the country.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=nOZs3abFpd0:rJhE87MOZbM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=nOZs3abFpd0:rJhE87MOZbM:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=nOZs3abFpd0:rJhE87MOZbM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=nOZs3abFpd0:rJhE87MOZbM:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a

Kofi Annan decries situation in Syria

Special envoy says U.N. monitors are providing only brief breaks in the fighting, and he calls for quick deployment of remaining monitors.BEIRUT — The presence of United Nations-backed monitors in Syria is providing only brief respites from violence and in some cases may be making the situation worse, a spokesman for U.N. and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan said Tuesday.

Kofi Annan decries situation in Syria

Special envoy says U.N. monitors are providing only brief breaks in the fighting, and he calls for quick deployment of remaining monitors.BEIRUT — The presence of United Nations-backed monitors in Syria is providing only brief respites from violence and in some cases may be making the situation worse, a spokesman for U.N. and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan said Tuesday.

U.S. puts sanctions on telecom firms in Syria, Iran

The Obama administration announces sanctions for recording cellphone calls, monitoring Internet traffic and employing other technological tools to 'facilitate grave human rights abuses.'WASHINGTON — The Internet and social media helped fuel last year's "Arab Spring" pro-democracy uprisings. Now, the Obama administration wants to prevent companies from using the same technology to help repressive regimes in Syria and Iran target dissidents.

U.S., EU impose new sanctions on Syria

Despite the presence of U.N. monitors, President Bashar Assad's forces have continued to shell cities and shoot at protesters, killing dozens, activists say.BEIRUT — The United States and European Union slapped Syria with additional sanctions Monday, as international pressure and a United Nations-backed peace plan have failed to quell the violence in a 13-month uprising.

Fatal Attacks in Syria Even With a Cease-Fire

Three members of the Syrian security services were killed in and around Damascus on Tuesday, one of several indications that the cease-fire arranged under United Nations auspices continued to wobble.

Assad's Propaganda War Moves to Twitter

In today's tour of state-sponsored propaganda, President Bashar al-Assad's propaganda war moves to Twitter, Hugo Chavez's physical condition is "excelente" and North Korea is confused by the Trayvon Martin case. We begin in Syria.

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Syria News | News Date April 23, 2012

U.S. hits Syria, Iran with sanctions for Internet, tech abuses

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration took aim Monday at what it called "digital guns for hire," unveiling new sanctions against Syria and Iran for using the Internet, social media and other technology to track and target dissidents.

New Sanctions Announced for Aiding Syria and Iran

The sanctions target those who provide technology that is used to track down dissidents for abuse, torture or death.

Obama targets tech in human rights abuses

President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against companies that enable Syria and Iran to use technology to carry out human rights abuses as he spoke in a somber ceremony at the Holocaust Memorial Museum.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_allpolitics?a=F_cfTH9RlvE:UWbOiySRHuI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_allpolitics?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_allpolitics?a=F_cfTH9RlvE:UWbOiySRHuI:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_allpolitics?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_allpolitics?a=F_cfTH9RlvE:UWbOiySRHuI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_allpolitics?i=F_cfTH9RlvE:UWbOiySRHuI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_allpolitics?a=F_cfTH9RlvE:UWbOiySRHuI:qj6IDK7rITs"&

More U.N. monitors expected in Syria

Intense explosions rocked the devastated city of Homs early Monday, opposition activists said, just days after the U.N. Security Council voted to send as many as 300 observers to monitor a tenuous cease-fire in Syria.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=kbBh8v7oAAs:x1NVukh3p6g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=kbBh8v7oAAs:x1NVukh3p6g:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=kbBh8v7oAAs:x1NVukh3p6g:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=kbBh8v7oAAs:x1NVukh3p6g:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=kbBh8v7oAAs:x1NVukh3p6g:qj6IDK7rITs"

Obama targets technology in human rights abuses

The White House announced Monday that President Barack Obama signed an executive order allowing new sanctions against companies that enable Syria and Iran to use technology such as cell phone monitoring to carry out human rights abuses.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=krEiPh-QoGg:7GWMTrbw0Mc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=krEiPh-QoGg:7GWMTrbw0Mc:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=krEiPh-QoGg:7GWMTrbw0Mc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=krEiPh-QoGg:7GWMTrbw0Mc:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=krEiPh-QoGg:7GWMTrbw0Mc:qj6IDK7rITs"><i

More U.N. monitors expected in Syria on Monday

Intense explosions rocked the devastated city of Homs early Monday, opposition activists said, just days after the U.N. Security Council voted to send as many as 300 observers to monitor a tenuous cease-fire in Syria.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=KhhqmF_otig:QrLdtsJ5SMI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=KhhqmF_otig:QrLdtsJ5SMI:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=KhhqmF_otig:QrLdtsJ5SMI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=KhhqmF_otig:QrLdtsJ5SMI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=KhhqmF_otig:QrLdtsJ5SMI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedb

EU set to slap new sanctions on Syrian regime

LUXEMBOURG (AP) -- Diplomats say the European Union will ban the sale of luxury goods and dual-use products to Syria as U.N. truce monitors start deploying in the conflict-torn nation....

More U.N. monitors expected in Syria on Monday

Intense explosions rocked the devastated city of Homs early Monday, opposition activists said, just days after the U.N. Security Council voted to send as many as 300 observers to monitor a tenuous cease-fire in Syria.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=pfGFfB_foY0:fiZFzir9gJ0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=pfGFfB_foY0:fiZFzir9gJ0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=pfGFfB_foY0:fiZFzir9gJ0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=pfGFfB_foY0:fiZFzir9gJ0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=pfGFfB_foY0:fiZFzir9gJ0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feed

Iran: Between three rocks and a hard place

(MENAFN - Arab News) WHEN the Arab League foreign ministers hold on an emergency meeting this Thursday, three items are slated to top their agenda - the crisis in Syria, the threat of war in Sudan ...

Obama to cite new technologies in rights abuses: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will issue an order on Monday to allow imposition of sanctions on foreign nationals who use new technologies such as cell-phone tracking and Internet monitoring to help carry out human rights abuses, The Washington Post reported on Monday. The newspaper quoted a senior administration official as saying that the executive order was designed to target companies and individuals assisting Iran and Syria, but future orders could expand the list. ...

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Syria News | News Date April 21, 2012

U.N. approves full monitoring mission in Syria

The U.N. Security Council authorizes as many as 300 observers to monitor a cease-fire in Syria. Seven observers already there on an advance mission visit the heavily shelled city of Homs. BEIRUT — The United Nations Security Council on Saturday authorized a full monitoring mission of up to 300 observers in Syria as the advance team visited the battered central city of Homs for the first time.

U.N. approves full monitoring mission in Syria

The U.N. Security Council authorizes as many as 300 observers to monitor a cease-fire in Syria. Seven observers already there on an advance mission visit the heavily shelled city of Homs. BEIRUT — The United Nations Security Council on Saturday authorized a full monitoring mission of up to 300 observers in Syria as the advance team visited the battered central city of Homs for the first time.

More observers approved for Syria

The United Nations Security Council on Saturday voted unanimously to authorize up to 300 unarmed military monitors to try and bring about compliance with a cease-fire imposed last week in violence-wracked Syria.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=2YnU3in3hcE:RlO48j74BaI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=2YnU3in3hcE:RlO48j74BaI:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=2YnU3in3hcE:RlO48j74BaI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=2YnU3in3hcE:RlO48j74BaI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=2YnU3in3hcE:RlO48j74BaI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.

300 more UN observers may be headed to Syria

United Nations ceasefire monitors visited the battered Syrian city of Homs and met its governor on Saturday, hours before the U.N. Security Council was to vote on a draft resolution to authorize the deployment to Syria of up to 300 unarmed military observers.

U.N. authorizes 300 Syria cease-fire observers

The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution expanding the number of U.N. observers in Syria from 30 to 300 and demanding an immediate halt to the violence that has been escalating since a cease-fire took effect over a week ago.

Battered City in Syria Is Quiet as U.N. Cease-Fire Monitors Visit

The inspectors met the Homs governor and toured the neighborhoods of Baba Amr, al-Zahraa, Zaidal and Fairouza, state-run media reported.

Syria allows in U.N. monitors after shelling stops

United Nations ceasefire monitors visited the battered Syrian city of Homs and met its governor on Saturday, hours before the U.N. Security Council was to vote on a draft resolution to authorize the deployment to Syria of up to 300 unarmed military observers.

Syria allows in U.N. monitors after shelling stops

Syrian authorities allowed a team of United Nations ceasefire monitors to enter the battered city of Homs on Saturday after shelling stopped.

U.N. council to vote on Syria observers

The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote Saturday on a draft resolution that would expand the size of a U.N. monitoring mission in Syria, Western diplomats said.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=_2h1FuIpaHI:L39zkWFFDYc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=_2h1FuIpaHI:L39zkWFFDYc:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=_2h1FuIpaHI:L39zkWFFDYc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=_2h1FuIpaHI:L39zkWFFDYc:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=_2h1FuIpaHI:L39zkWFFDYc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rs

U.N. Security Council to vote on Syria observer mission

The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote Saturday on a draft resolution that would expand the size of a U.N. monitoring mission in Syria, Western diplomats said.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=hTY80RIIh7I:I114yrmXbA8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=hTY80RIIh7I:I114yrmXbA8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=hTY80RIIh7I:I114yrmXbA8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=hTY80RIIh7I:I114yrmXbA8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=hTY80RIIh7I:I114yrmXbA8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=qj6IDK7rITs"

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Syria News | News Date April 20, 2012

A game changer for Syria?

The six-point peace plan for Syria proposed by Kofi Annan is doomed to fail for one simple reason: Neither President Bashar al-Assad nor the government opposition is interested in making it work.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=woANODQ_ui0:vIJIbqkRad4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=woANODQ_ui0:vIJIbqkRad4:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=woANODQ_ui0:vIJIbqkRad4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=woANODQ_ui0:vIJIbqkRad4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=woANODQ_ui0:vIJIbqkRad4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/r

Syrian activists: Homs under attack

Shelling and gunfire resumed in Syrian opposition strongholds Friday as world leaders sought tougher measures against the regime over its failure to fully implement a peace plan imposed last week.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=8BM8gth-9Ic:d8hrTqq_Uyo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=8BM8gth-9Ic:d8hrTqq_Uyo:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=8BM8gth-9Ic:d8hrTqq_Uyo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=8BM8gth-9Ic:d8hrTqq_Uyo:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=8BM8gth-9Ic:d8hrTqq_Uyo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http

Violence erupts in Syria despite calls for tough U.N. steps

Shelling and gunfire resumed in some Syrian neighborhoods Friday, opposition activists said, as world leaders sought tough United Nations measures against the regime over its failure to fully implement a peace plan imposed last week.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=nNIfPtF8uTQ:lQCaUmGqXZ8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=nNIfPtF8uTQ:lQCaUmGqXZ8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=nNIfPtF8uTQ:lQCaUmGqXZ8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=nNIfPtF8uTQ:lQCaUmGqXZ8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=nNIfPtF8uTQ:lQCaUmGqXZ8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img

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Syria News | News Date April 19, 2012

Syria, U.N. reach deal on monitors' access, safety

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticizes the government of President Bashar Assad for failing to uphold the cease-fire.BEIRUT — Syria and the United Nations reached a preliminary agreement Thursday on a monitoring mission to supervise a shaky cease-fire, as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized the government of President Bashar Assad for failing to uphold the truce.

Syrian Sunnis and Shiites caught up in kidnapping tit-for-tat

As the uprising becomes increasingly sectarian, residents of Idlib province rush to collect hostages as bargaining chips.IDLIB, Syria — In a rickety office building once used by agricultural engineers in the village of Hazano, rebels with the Missiles of Justice militia waited to hear word of negotiations about a hostage swap that night.

The Lede Blog: Protests and Gunfire Greet U.N. Observers in Syria

Video posted online by Syrian activists this week showed United Nations military observers mobbed by protesters and fleeing gunfire.

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Syria News | News Date April 19, 2012

IHT Rendezvous: Clinton Hints at NATO Action Against Syria

As Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations accused Syria of failing to carry out nearly every element of the peace plan and doing nothing to alleviate an intensifying humanitarian crisis, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hinted at a possible NATO role in the conflict because of Syrian shelling into Turkey, a NATO member. <a href="www.nytimes.com/2012/04/20/world/middleeast/Syria-united-nations-secretary-general-ban-ki-moon-cease-fire.html">Read more »</a>

Joint Chiefs' leader: US will not send troops to Syria

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says that the United States will not send troops to Syria or act unilaterally there.

News - Syria News - Iraq News

Syria News | News Date April 19, 2012

U.N. Chief Says Syria is Failing to Adhere to Peace Plan

As the secretary-general said Syria had failed to implement a peace plan, United Nations were set to discuss a sending 300 cease-fire observers to the country.

News - Syria News - Iraq News

Syria News | News Date April 19, 2012

U.N. chief: Syria not in full compliance

Syria is not complying with the pledge by President Bashar al-Assad, pictured with his wife, to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from towns, the United Nations says.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=vwipJraQKMA:jvqJe8_AIqc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=vwipJraQKMA:jvqJe8_AIqc:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=vwipJraQKMA:jvqJe8_AIqc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=vwipJraQKMA:jvqJe8_AIqc:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=vwipJraQKMA:jvqJe8_AIqc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="

U.N. chief: Syria has not fully complied

Syria is not complying with its pledge to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from towns, the United Nations said Thursday, as it highlighted the need for the government to fully commit to a proposed peace plan.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=oKQj24nMhLA:dydh1sWoETY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=oKQj24nMhLA:dydh1sWoETY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=oKQj24nMhLA:dydh1sWoETY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=oKQj24nMhLA:dydh1sWoETY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=oKQj24nMhLA:dydh1sWoETY:qj6IDK7rITs"><

U.N. chief says Syria has not fully complied with peace plan

Syria is not complying with its pledge to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from towns, the United Nations said Thursday, as it highlighted the need for the government to fully commit to a proposed peace plan.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=W8WkVlLO3s8:5YCL36ESf1w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=W8WkVlLO3s8:5YCL36ESf1w:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=W8WkVlLO3s8:5YCL36ESf1w:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=W8WkVlLO3s8:5YCL36ESf1w:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=W8WkVlLO3s8:5YCL36ESf1w:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedbu

Syria Fails to Keep to Truce - Ban Ki-moon

Syria has failed to comply with its obligation under a peace plan to pull troops and heavy weapons out of urban areas, the UN secretary-general alerted. Ban Ki-moon has called for an observer mission to be expanded to 300 members in a letter to the UN Security Council, as cited by BBC. Ban said although the ceasefire agreed by both sides following a UN Security Council resolution was incomplete, both sides said they were committed to ending the violence. ...

Peace under UN canopy

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The arrival of 30 military observers under the canopy of the United Nations is intended to provide a salutary influence on the warring factions in Syria. Whether such a ...

Is Turkey weighing army presence in Syria?

(MENAFN - Arab News) With international peacekeepers overseeing a shaky cease-fire in Syria, Turkey appears to be moving closer to creating a buffer zone across the Syrian border as the refugee ...

UN chief says Syria hasn't fully complied with peace plan

UNITED NATIONS -- Syria has not fully complied with its obligations to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from towns and has yet to send a "clear signal" about its commitment to peace, the U.N. chief told the Security Council in a letter obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.

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Syria News | News Date April 18, 2012

U.N. monitors in Syria witness attack by troops, activists say

Syrian government forces shot at protesters who swarmed around U.N. vehicles in Damascus, activists say.BEIRUT — United Nations monitors in Syria on Wednesday witnessed government forces shooting at protesters in a suburb of Damascus, the capital, activists said.

U.N. monitors in Syria witness attack by troops, activists say

Syrian government forces shot at protesters who swarmed around U.N. vehicles in Damascus, activists say.BEIRUT — United Nations monitors in Syria on Wednesday witnessed government forces shooting at protesters in a suburb of Damascus, the capital, activists said.

Killings persist in Syria despite U.N. mission

Syria said Wednesday that it would offer aircraft to United Nations observers and called for the deployment of hundreds more monitors in addition to a team already in the nation to ensure that a cease-fire holds.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=NJfvdeSJUF8:h-wFkMjp0H4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=NJfvdeSJUF8:h-wFkMjp0H4:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=NJfvdeSJUF8:h-wFkMjp0H4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=NJfvdeSJUF8:h-wFkMjp0H4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=NJfvdeSJUF8:h-wFkMjp0H4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner

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Syria News | News Date April 18, 2012

The Lede Blog: Syrian First Lady Is Urged to Challenge Crackdown

As Asma al-Assad, wife of President Bashar al-Assad, made a rare appearance with him, two United Nations ambassadors appealed to Mrs. Assad to use her influence to end Syrian violence.

Accord Near on Full Deployment of Cease-Fire Monitors in Syria

Diplomatic haggling over the deployment terms came as violence flared throughout Syria on day six of the cease-fire.

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Syria News | News Date April 18, 2012

U.N. wives appeal to Syria first lady

The wives of the British and German ambassadors to the United Nations have taken on Syria&apos;s first lady in an online video, calling on Asma al-Assad to stop your husband and stop being a bystander.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=JhMuqJQtlxk:8tZ6053A8wc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=JhMuqJQtlxk:8tZ6053A8wc:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=JhMuqJQtlxk:8tZ6053A8wc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=JhMuqJQtlxk:8tZ6053A8wc:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=JhMuqJQtlxk:8tZ6053A8wc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img

Turkey to search ship possibly carrying weapons to Syria

Turkish authorities are preparing to board and search a German-owned cargo ship reported to be carrying Iranian weapons bound for Syria.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=Go1FA3F0H2I:cxqiIjIGieM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=Go1FA3F0H2I:cxqiIjIGieM:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=Go1FA3F0H2I:cxqiIjIGieM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=Go1FA3F0H2I:cxqiIjIGieM:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=Go1FA3F0H2I:cxqiIjIGieM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img><

Experts: Al-Assad making gains during Syria cease-fire

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is tightening his grip on the country during the decrease in violence brought on by U.N. demands, experts on the region say.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=fX5d-iTHPhw:jW-yCp-rNog:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=fX5d-iTHPhw:jW-yCp-rNog:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=fX5d-iTHPhw:jW-yCp-rNog:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=fX5d-iTHPhw:jW-yCp-rNog:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=fX5d-iTHPhw:jW-yCp-rNog:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_top

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Syria News | News Date April 18, 2012

Syria first lady Asma Assad told: 'Stop your husband'

The wives of two U.N. ambassadors have produced a video appealing to Syria's first lady, Asma Assad, to "stop your husband" in his bid to thwart an uprising that has left thousands dead.

Syrian first lady urged to stop husband

Syrian forces renewed their attacks on opposition strongholds Wednesday, activists said, marking another day of violation of a shaky truce despite the presence of United Nations observers in the nation.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=yxzTItVPhDQ:VNt5NG9RZiU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=yxzTItVPhDQ:VNt5NG9RZiU:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=yxzTItVPhDQ:VNt5NG9RZiU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=yxzTItVPhDQ:VNt5NG9RZiU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=yxzTItVPhDQ:VNt5NG9RZiU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src

Activists: Syrian forces target opposition areas despite shaky truce

Syrian forces renewed their attacks on opposition strongholds Wednesday, activists said, marking another day of violation of a shaky truce despite the presence of United Nations observers in the nation.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=7jzh72ySwyo:DcYdYEqM-S8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=7jzh72ySwyo:DcYdYEqM-S8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=7jzh72ySwyo:DcYdYEqM-S8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=7jzh72ySwyo:DcYdYEqM-S8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=7jzh72ySwyo:DcYdYEqM-S8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.co

News - Syria News - Iraq News

Syria News | News Date April 17, 2012

U.N. likely to send full slate of Syria monitors

Security Council is expected to send all 250 to oversee peace plan, but Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon fears that still won't be enough.BEIRUT — The United Nations Security Council is expected to authorize deploying a full mission of 250 monitors to Syria after it takes up the issue Wednesday, but Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon questioned whether even that number would be sufficient.

Each Side Accuses the Other of Violating Syria’s Cease-Fire

The sides traded accusations as an advance team of United Nations observers, sent to monitor the cease-fire, was spotted in the southern city of Dara’a.

Kurds Remain on Sideline in Syria’s Uprising

Syria’s Kurds have endured decades of marginalization, but they are still wary of getting involved in the country’s uprising.

Hezbollah chief tells Russian TV tried to mediate in Syria crisis

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah told a Russian television channel on Tuesday that his Syria-backed group had tried to act as a mediator in the Syrian conflict but failed to persuade the opposition to come to the negotiating table. Nasrallah made the remarks on the Kremlin-funded English language television station during the first broadcast of a new talk show hosted by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. ...

U.N. likely to send full slate of Syria monitors

Security Council is expected to send all 250 to oversee peace plan, but Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon fears that still won't be enough.BEIRUT — The United Nations Security Council is expected to authorize deploying a full mission of 250 monitors to Syria after it takes up the issue Wednesday, but Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon questioned whether even that number would be sufficient.

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Syria News | News Date April 17, 2012

Will U.N. mission affect Syria endgame?

The beginning of the U.N. observer mission to Syria heralds a new phase in more than a year of upheaval across the country. But such is the polarization in Syria that most analysts see the mission as the least worst option before violence sets the agenda again.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=4ZE2STGuCVk:jV8-sehdcoU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=4ZE2STGuCVk:jV8-sehdcoU:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=4ZE2STGuCVk:jV8-sehdcoU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=4ZE2STGuCVk:jV8-sehdcoU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topst

Analysis: U.N. mission does nothing to change endgame in Syria

The beginning of the U.N. observer mission to Syria heralds a new phase in more than a year of upheaval across the country. Success, however unlikely, could open the door to some form of dialogue between the regime and its opponents. But such is the polarization in Syria that most analysts see the mission as the least worst option before violence sets the agenda again.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=iMSMPexWVr8:gKzJhsP4WKM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=iMSMPexWVr8:gKzJhsP4WKM:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=iMSMPexWVr8:gKzJhsP4WKM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=iMSMPexWVr8:gKzJhsP4WKM:V_sGLiPBpWU"

Will U.N. mission affect Syria end-game?

Such is the polarization in Syria that most analysts see the U.N. observer mission as the least worst option before violence sets the agenda again.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=607EcBdrcJs:FfGzCfNdQIQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=607EcBdrcJs:FfGzCfNdQIQ:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=607EcBdrcJs:FfGzCfNdQIQ:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=607EcBdrcJs:FfGzCfNdQIQ:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=607EcBdrcJs:FfGzCfNdQIQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img>&

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Syria News | News Date April 17, 2012

Russia Says Outside Forces Threaten Syrian Cease-Fire

Activist reports of attacks by Syrian forces were a response, the Russian foreign minister said.

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Syria News | News Date April 17, 2012

Jordanian arrested in Syria

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) Syrian authorities arrested a Jordanian man last week, according to his family. Khalid Salim Hiary, a 40-year-old carpenter from the city of Salt, entered the troubled ...

Kuwait- No work permits for Syrians

(MENAFN - Arab Times) Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Mohammad Al-Kanderi has announced that new hiring in the ministry will be referred to the Labor Sector, specifically Hawalli, Farwaniya and ...

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Syria News | News Date April 16, 2012

Warner Bros. shelves Mel Gibson Maccabee movie

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Warner Bros. has put on hold a controversial Mel Gibson movie project about the Jewish Maccabee revolt in the 2nd Century B.C. after reading the script by writer Joe Eszterhas, TheWrap has learned. A spokesman for the studio told TheWrap, "We are analyzing what to do with the project." Jewish groups were outraged after news broke in September that Gibson had reached a production deal with Warner Bros. to direct the story of Judah Maccabee, whose victory over Greek and Syrian armies is celebrated at Hanukkah. One Jewish group called it "a moral lapse in judgment. ...

From afar, Syrian-Americans worry and mourn

Since violence began in their home country more than a year ago, Syrian-Americans have been trying to cope from a distance.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=__6-mP2dWbc:JQTvdEvAvcw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=__6-mP2dWbc:JQTvdEvAvcw:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=__6-mP2dWbc:JQTvdEvAvcw:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=__6-mP2dWbc:JQTvdEvAvcw:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=__6-mP2dWbc:JQTvdEvAvcw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="ht

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Syria News | News Date April 16, 2012

UN Observers Arrive in Syria, Fighting Reported

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon requested the Syrian government to grant full access to the international observers who arrived in Syria Monday. "We are not considering options such as military security for our envoys at present, since we trust that their free movement must be guaranteed by Syrian authorities," stated Ban at a press-conference after meeting European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. "Our number one priority is to guarantee a conclusive end to violence in Syria, as well as to be granted an unlimited access for humanitarian aid," stated Barroso. ...

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Syria News | News Date April 16, 2012

IHT Rendezvous: U.N. Truce Observers Arrive in Syria as Shelling Continues

BEIRUT, Lebanon - An initial team of six United Nations military observers arrived in Syria on Monday to monitor compliance with the fragile, four-day-old cease-fire, as activists reported government shelling in Homs, Hama and other areas. The monitors were to be joined by 25 more within days, the advance guard of a contingent expected to grow to 250. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/world/middleeast/un-truce-observers-arrive-in-Syria-as-shelling-continues.html">Read more »</a>

U.N. monitors to begin work in Syria

The first members of a U.N. observer team will begin their work in Syria on Monday, tasked with monitoring a tenuous cease-fire that is showing signs of collapse amid growing reports of bloodshed.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=7XiWvtVGGzo:Z_KKy69lg1w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=7XiWvtVGGzo:Z_KKy69lg1w:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=7XiWvtVGGzo:Z_KKy69lg1w:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=7XiWvtVGGzo:Z_KKy69lg1w:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=7XiWvtVGGzo:Z_KKy69lg1w:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn

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Syria News | News Date April 16, 2012

Bulgarian ex-FM Passy: NATO Shoud Rid Syria of Assad

NATO should intervene in the conflict in Syria in the wake of the incursion by Syrian government forces in Turkish territory, stated former Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Minsiter Solomon Passy. "Turkey is a major geopolitical power and it can indeed defend itself from Syrian raids, but notwithstanding NATO should give the Bashar Al-Assad regime a clear signal of our solidarity with Turkey," said he. "NATO can still help to free the Syrian people of the nearly half-century long dictatorship of the Assad clan," added Passy. ...

U.N. Truce Observers Arrive in Syria as Shelling Continues

Six United Nations military observers arrived overnight and were ready to begin, depending on the cooperation of the Syrian government, a spokesman for the special envoy Kofi Annan said.

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Syria News | News Date April 16, 2012

U.N. monitors arrive in Syria as killings continue

The first members of a U.N. observer team will begin their work in Syria on Monday, tasked with monitoring a tenuous cease-fire that is showing signs of collapse.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=nUWTSaGXf6U:2P3qzAKT05Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=nUWTSaGXf6U:2P3qzAKT05Q:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=nUWTSaGXf6U:2P3qzAKT05Q:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=nUWTSaGXf6U:2P3qzAKT05Q:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=nUWTSaGXf6U:2P3qzAKT05Q:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cn

U.N. monitors to begin work in Syria on Monday

The first members of a U.N. observer team will begin their work in Syria on Monday, tasked with monitoring a tenuous cease-fire that is showing signs of collapse.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=czWVJOvVV5E:6sAiLJObfc4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=czWVJOvVV5E:6sAiLJObfc4:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=czWVJOvVV5E:6sAiLJObfc4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=czWVJOvVV5E:6sAiLJObfc4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=czWVJOvVV5E:6sAiLJObfc4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=qj6IDK7rITs" bord

6 U.N. observers arrive in Syria

The team is to begin monitoring a cease-fire Monday morning, but as of Sunday, violence continued in Homs and other areas.BEIRUT — Six United Nations observers arrived in the capital of Syria on Sunday night to begin monitoring a cease-fire even as violence continued in parts of the country, further fraying the peace plan.

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Syria News | News Date April 15, 2012

6 U.N. observers arrive in Syria

The team is to begin monitoring a cease-fire Monday morning, but as of Sunday, violence continued in Homs and other areas.BEIRUT — Six United Nations observers arrived in the capital of Syria on Sunday night to begin monitoring a cease-fire even as violence continued in parts of the country, further fraying the peace plan.

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Syria News | News Date April 15, 2012

As UN ceasefire monitors arrive, violence flares in Syria

Syrian forces pounded central districts of the flashpoint city of Homs on Sunday, resident opposition activists and a rights group said.

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Syria News | News Date April 15, 2012

Syrian Violence Continues as U.N. Team Prepares Arrival

United Nations cease-fire monitors were due to arrive in Syria on Sunday even as activists described violence erupting in Homs and an area near the Turkish border.

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Syria News | News Date April 15, 2012

Opposition: Syrian forces pummel Homs from the sky

Government helicopters pounded the besieged city of Homs from the sky, opposition activists said Sunday, three days after a so-called cease-fire in Syria.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=i0S2OAqa9EE:vYGBVJ57cIU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=i0S2OAqa9EE:vYGBVJ57cIU:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=i0S2OAqa9EE:vYGBVJ57cIU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?i=i0S2OAqa9EE:vYGBVJ57cIU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?a=i0S2OAqa9EE:vYGBVJ57cIU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_world?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></i

U.N. approves monitors for Syria as violence resumes

The U.N. Security Council, including Russia, condemns human rights violations on both sides in Syria. Meanwhile, activists say almost 30 people were killed in the country.BEIRUT — As the cease-fire in Syria appeared to be unraveling, the U.N. Security Council on Saturday unanimously approved sending as many as 30 unarmed monitors to try to help maintain the fragile truce.

Syria violence flares ahead of UN peace mission

Syrian forces pounded central districts of the flashpoint city of Homs on Sunday, resident opposition activists and a rights group said.

Syrian forces pound Homs, activists say

Government helicopters pounded the besieged city of Homs from the sky, opposition activists said Sunday, three days after a so-called cease-fire in Syria.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=OJW-iW7vk1s:37osMviLguE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=OJW-iW7vk1s:37osMviLguE:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=OJW-iW7vk1s:37osMviLguE:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?i=OJW-iW7vk1s:37osMviLguE:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topstories?a=OJW-iW7vk1s:37osMviLguE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_topsto

Tyranny of Syrian Army must stop!

(MENAFN - Arab News) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday the Syrian government had the prime responsibility to stop the violence in the country and withdraw its forces from urban areas ...

Opposition: Syrian forces pummel Homs from the sky

Government helicopters pounded the besieged city of Homs from the sky, opposition activists said Sunday, three days after a so-called cease-fire in Syria.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=yEpEjPuW4ec:eC312r8Bf0I:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=yEpEjPuW4ec:eC312r8Bf0I:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=yEpEjPuW4ec:eC312r8Bf0I:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?i=yEpEjPuW4ec:eC312r8Bf0I:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?a=yEpEjPuW4ec:eC312r8Bf0I:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/rss/cnn_latest?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"&g

U.N. approves first observers for Syria

The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday to deploy the first wave of U.N. military observers to monitor a fragile cease-fire between the Syrian government and opposition fighters.

U.N. approves monitors for Syria as violence resumes

The U.N. Security Council, including Russia, condemns human rights violations on both sides in Syria. Meanwhile, activists say almost 30 people were killed in the country.BEIRUT — As the cease-fire in Syria appeared to be unraveling, the U.N. Security Council on Saturday unanimously approved sending as many as 30 unarmed monitors to try to help maintain the fragile truce.

NATO Sees Flaws in Air Campaign Against Qaddafi

The findings undercut the idea that NATO could effectively carry out a more complicated campaign in Syria without relying disproportionately on the United States military.

The Lede Blog: Waiting for Observers, Syrians Document New Violence on YouTube

Syrian activists appeared to document the security forces opening fire on protesters at a funeral in the city of Aleppo on Saturday.

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