U.S. slaps sanctions on Syrian president, top aides

The United States imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and six other top aides for human rights abuses on Wednesday in a dramatic escalation of pressure on Syria to cease its brutal crackdown on protesters. (more…)

Gemayel: The situation in Syria is unacceptable

Phalange party bloc MP Nadim Gemayel said on Wednesday that the existence of non-state weapons in Lebanon was behind the the postponement of a conference that was meant to support the Syrian people at the Beirut Bristol Hotel. (more…)

‘Fear factor’ behind failure of strike in Syria, report

The Facebook group, The Syrian Revolution 2011, which boasts about 180,000 followers and which has emerged as the organizing force behind the demonstrations that have been demanding “freedom” in Syria called for nationwide strike for this Wednesday May 18 . (more…)

Syrian president: Security forces made mistakes

Beirut, Lebanon- Syria’s president says the country’s security forces have made mistakes during the uprising against his regime and that thousands of police officers are receiving new training.

Assad’s comments were carried by the private Al-Watan daily on Wednesday. They came as a human rights activist said Syrian troops have used heavy machine-guns to bomb a neighborhood in the central city of Homs. (more…)

Tanks shell Syrian town

Tanks bombarded a Syrian border town for the fourth day on Wednesday in a military campaign to crush protests against President Bashar al-Assad, under mounting Western pressure to stop his violent repression of demonstrators. (more…)

Lebanon Needs a Cabinet of Technocrats Now.

By: Ghassan Karam
When the coalition forces of March 8 agreed to bring down the Lebanese Cabinet of Sa’ad Hariri they started a process that no one at the time would have ever thought to be possible.

Mikati: Nothing accomplished in meeting with Hezbollah Amal aides

Al-Manar TV , the mouthpiece of Hezbollah reported on Tuesday that Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati will meet on Tuesday evening with Speaker Nabih Berri’s political aide Ali Hassan Khalil and Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s political adviser Hussein Khalil to resume discussing “details of the cabinet formation process.” (more…)

Controversy over the extradition of Syrian soldiers

While the security source denied to Al Sharq al Awsat newspaper the presence of Syrian troops in the custody of the Lebanese army, a Lebanese judicial source told the newspaper that “the extradition of 3 Syrian soldiers came at their request, after they confirmed that they did not flee from the Syrian army . (more…)

Teachers and Public Transportation Unions go on strike

Tow strikes are expected to take place in Lebanon… One on Wednesday and another on Thursday (more…)

Meet the new “caretaker” leader of al Qaeda

An Egyptian who was once a Special Forces officer has been chosen “caretaker” leader of al Qaeda in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death, according to a source with detailed knowledge of the group’s inner workings. (more…)