Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa has appeared in public for the first time in weeks, ending speculation that he had defected from President Bashar al-Assad’s embattled government. The 73-year-old Sunni Muslim met Sunday with a visiting senior Iranian official in Damascus. Sharaa was last seen in public at a state funeral for security officials who […]
Hundreds of Bodies Found Outside Damascus
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 6:55 am (UTC-5)
A Syrian watchdog group says hundreds of people were killed across the country Saturday. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the final death toll for the day was 370. Activists say nearly 200 bodies were found in Daraya, a town close to Damascus, the capital. The number of corpses in Daraya and when […]
Activists: Syrian Troops Kill Hundreds in Daraya
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 1:30 am (UTC-5)
Activists say Syrian troops have massacred hundreds of people in a town close to the capital. They say 200 were killed in Daraya, just southwest of Damascus. The state-run SANA news agency says Daraya had been “purified of terrorist remnants.” The attack on Daraya was part of an army campaign to regain control of the […]
Activists: Syrian Troops Kill Dozens in Daraya
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 8:15 pm (UTC-5)
Activists say Syrian troops have killed dozens of people in Daraya, just southwest of Damascus. The town had already sustained heavy shelling. Activists say more than 100 people have died there this week alone. The attack on Daraya was part of an army campaign to regain control of the outskirts of the capital. Activists say […]
Syrian Forces Pound Aleppo, Damascus
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Activists say Syrian forces with tanks and combat helicopters have launched fresh raids in Aleppo and suburban Damascus in a bid to crush rebels. The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says about 40 people – most of them civilians – died in anti-government related unrest across Syria Saturday. President Bashar al-Assad has blamed foreign-backed […]
Haiti Assessing Damage from Tropical Storm Haiti
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
Officials in earthquake-ravaged Haiti are assessing damage from Tropical Storm Isaac, which moved over the impoverished Caribbean island early Saturday. Relief workers are concerned about hundreds of thousands of people who are still living in tent camps and other makeshift structures, more than two years after a catastrophic earthquake caused enormous damage in and around […]
No Progress in Iran Nuclear Talks
Posted August 24th, 2012 at 4:50 pm (UTC-5)
Representatives from Iran and the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog have wrapped up another round of talks, with no agreement over access to a disputed nuclear site. The two sides met Friday in Vienna to discuss access to Iran’s Parchin facility, a military installation southeast of Tehran. The West suspects the site is related to possible nuclear […]
Indian Govt Calls for End to Political Deadlock
Posted August 24th, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
India’s government is hitting back at corruption allegations and urging opposition lawmakers to end protests that have shut down parliament for a fourth day. Opposition members have been calling for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation since the release of a national auditor’s report claiming the government sold coal fields to private companies without transparency […]
Ethiopia Delays Installation of New Prime Minister
Posted August 22nd, 2012 at 3:00 pm (UTC-5)
Ethiopia has delayed plans to swear in Hailemariam Desalegn as the new prime minister, following Monday’s death of Meles Zenawi. Parliament had been expected to hold an emergency session Thursday to install Mr. Desalegn. He had served as Mr. Meles’ deputy since 2010. However, the government communications office issued a statement late Wednesday saying the […]
Zuma Meets Miners at Site of Police Killings
Posted August 22nd, 2012 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
South African President Jacob Zuma has assured miners his government will uncover the “truth” about the police killing of 34 striking mine workers. Mr. Zuma spoke to hundreds of striking miners at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana. Police opened fire on protesters demanding higher wages at the Marikana mine last week. At least 10 […]
