France gaining support for U.N.resolution on Syria

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Tuesday France and Britain were close to getting nine votes for a resolution on Syria at the U.N. Security Council, but Russia and China were still threatening to use their veto. (more…)

US and EU will take new steps to respond to Syria’s crackdown

The United States and the European Union will take new steps to respond to Syria’s crackdown in coming days if the government does not change course, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Tuesday. (more…)

Kuwaiti MPs call for severing ties with Syria

Al-Jazeera has reported that 25 Kuwaiti MPs , mostly from the opposition have demanded the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador to Kuwait and the severing of diplomatic ties with Damascus.

Major General Bassam Abdel Majeed ( pictured) is the current Syrian ambassador to Kuwait. (more…)

Syrian army closes a border crossing with Lebanon

MTV reported on Tuesday that the Syrian army erected barbed wire fences at the Qubayah crossing on the northern border with Lebanon to prevent refugees from the town of Tall Kalakh and the surrounding area from reaching Lebanon’s Wadi Khaled area (more…)

Syrian Revolution 2011 calls for nationwide Strike on May 18

The Facebook group, The Syrian Revolution 2011, which boasts more than 178,000 followers and which has emerged as the organizing force behind the demonstrations that have been demanding “freedom” in Syria has called for nationwide strike this Wednesday May 18 . (more…)

Syrian soldiers who defected to Lebanon risk deportation

Three Syrian soldiers who defected to Lebanon after protecting refugees from the regime’s militia have been arrested by Lebanese authorities and risk being returned to face summary justice in Syria, say activists. (more…)

Iran building rocket bases in Venezuela, Die Welt

The Iranian government is moving forward with the construction of rocket launch bases in Venezuela, the German daily Die Welt wrote in its Friday edition.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is Teheran’s most important South American ally. (more…)

No bail for IMF chief, has to remain in jail

head of the International Monetary Fund must remain jailed at least until his next court hearing for attempted rape and other charges, a judge said Monday. (more…)

ICC may seek to arrest Assad over violent crackdown

Nick Harvey, Britain’s armed forces minister, said it was “highly likely” that the International Criminal Court would seek the arrest of Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president, over his role in the violent crackdown on protesters. (more…)

Egypt’s Suzanne Mubarak to hand over assets to state

The wife of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has agreed to hand over assets to the state after being held in a corruption probe, officials say.

They say Suzanne Mubarak will turn over a villa in a Cairo suburb and some $3m (£1.9m) held in bank accounts in Egypt.
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