United Nations special envoy Kofi Annan has arrived in Syria for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Mr. Annan’s visit Sunday comes the day after the former U.N. chief admitted that the international efforts to stem the bloodshed in Syria have failed. Mr. Annan is the architect of the most prominent international plan to end […]
Syria Launches Large-Scale Military Exercises
Posted July 8th, 2012 at 8:30 am (UTC-5)
Syrian state media announced Sunday the start of large-scale military drills along the country’s coast, as more civilians reportedly died in clashes between government and rebel forces. State television reported that the military is practicing how it would repel an attack by sea. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told the French news agency […]
China Rejects US Criticism Involving Syria Conflict
Posted July 7th, 2012 at 7:05 am (UTC-5)
China has rejected criticism by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that China and Russia are hampering efforts to end the Syrian conflict by supporting President Bashar al-Assad. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Saturday that Clinton’s comments are “totally unacceptable.” He said China has wide support among members of the international community for […]
Call for More Sanctions on Syria as Top Assad General Departs
Posted July 6th, 2012 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
World leaders meeting in Paris have called for new global sanctions against Syria, as news emerged that a top Syrian general has defected. Representatives of more than 100 nations called for “broader and tougher” penalties against Damascus as part an effort to pressure the Syrian government to end a deadly crackdown on dissent. The so-called […]
Call for More Sanctions on Syria as Top Assad General Departs
Posted July 6th, 2012 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
A group of over 100 nations pressing for an end to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s rule has called for “broader and tougher” sanctions against the Syrian government, as news emerged that a top general has abandoned the Damascus regime. Diplomats in Paris came up with their new call for sanctions a bid to end the […]
Turkey Mourns 2 Pilots Downed by Syria
Posted July 6th, 2012 at 7:25 am (UTC-5)
The bodies of two Turkish airmen whose jet was shot down last month by Syria have been recovered and are being buried Friday at a military funeral. The bodies of the pilots were pulled Thursday from the seabed 14 kilometers off the Syrian coast. They were located with the help of U.S. ocean explorer Robert […]
Top General Said to Defect From Syria
Posted July 6th, 2012 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
A top Syrian general and one-time confidante of President Bashar al-Assad is said to have defected from Syria and is believed to be in Turkey, a potentially serious blow to Mr. Assad’s regime. Sipan Hassan of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA his activist group learned from journalists and security sources in Syria […]
Top General Said to Defect From Syria
Posted July 6th, 2012 at 6:10 am (UTC-5)
A top Syrian general and one-time confidante of President Bashar al-Assad has defected from Syria and is believed to be in Turkey, a potentially serious blow to Mr. Assad’s regime. Sipan Hassan of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA his activist group learned from journalists and security sources in Syria that Manaf Tlas […]
Top General Said to Defect From Syria
Posted July 6th, 2012 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
A top Syrian general and one-time confidante of President Bashar al-Assad has defected from Syria and is believed to be in Turkey, a potentially serious blow to Mr. Assad’s regime. Sipan Hassan of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA his activist group learned from journalists and security sources in Syria that Manaf Tlas […]
Syrian Activist Group: Top General Defects
Posted July 6th, 2012 at 3:25 am (UTC-5)
An official with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says a Syrian general and one-time confidante of President Bashar al-Assad has defected from Syria and is believed to be in Turkey. Sipan Hassan told VOA his activist group learned from journalists in Syria that Manaf Tlas has left the country. Tlas served as a brigadier […]
