Syria death toll climbs above 1,500 since protests began

Syrian security forces have killed 1,504 people since the start of anti-government demonstrations in mid-March, said Ammar Qurabi, head of the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria. (more…)

Ghanem: Government will collapse if statement not presented on time

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Wednesday that he will carry out the appropriate constitutional decision if the if the 12 member ministerial committee failed to draft the cabinet’s policy statement by the end of the constitutional period. (more…)

US envoy: Hezbollah deflecting attension from its internal tension

Following talks with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly said on Wednesday that Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s recent statements against the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon are aimed at “deflecting attention away from internal tensions in the party.” (more…)

Rep. Kucinich’s Syria visit raises eyebrows

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich showed up in Syria this week and held a press conference in which he appeared to praise embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad – who is ruthlessly crushing opposition to his government – as “highly loved and appreciated by the Syrians.” (more…)

Military defector : Syrian soldierrs told to shoot civilians

Syrian soldiers were ordered to shoot unarmed civilians, a military defector alleges, adding neither he nor his colleagues ever saw protesters with weapons. (more…)

Op-Ed: All in for freedom in Syria

All we want is our freedom. We know the cost, but we are ready to pay the price. With 1,300 dead already, we cannot give up now, because their deaths would have been in vain.

Russian envoy on Syria: Leaders come and go

Russian presidential envoy to Africa Mikhail Margelov told Syrian opposition members that “leaders come and go” – an apparent signal to Syrian President Bashar Assad that he cannot count on his ally’s unconditional support after months of protests demanding his ouster. (more…)

Syria’s UK ambassador summoned over protester intimidation claims

Syria’s ambassador to Britain has been called into the Foreign Office and warned about allegations that a diplomat at the embassy has been intimidating Syrians living in the UK. A Foreign Office spokesman said on Monday the police had not received any complaints but the ambassador (more…)

Mikati: Lebanon rejects the naturalization of Palestinians

During a meeting with a Palestinian delegation that was headed by Azzam al-Ahmed, president Mahmoud Abbas’ envoy PM Nagib Mikati said: Lebanon is unanimous in its decision to reject the naturalization of Palestinians but vowed to work on giving the humanitarian (more…)

MP Murr to grant his vote of confidence to new cabinet

MP Michel al-Murr revealed on Tuesday that he will grant his vote of confidence to the newly-formed Lebanese cabinet headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

“I cannot withhold the vote of confidence to a cabinet in which Speaker Nabih Berri is represented,” Murr was quoted as saying by the National News Agency , following talks with Berri in Ain al-Tineh. (more…)