Analysis: The cost of Syria’s crackdown

Could the country’s economic decline, spurred on by the protests, pose a graver challenge to al-Assad than the uprising?

Turkish Foreign Minister in Beirut for Visit

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu arrived in Lebanon Saturday morning for talks with Lebanese officials, National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Davutoglu , who arrived at the Rafik Hariri International Airport on board a private jet from Turkey , headed for the presidential palace for talks with President Michel Suleiman. (more…)

Syria bars “Freedom Convoy” from delivering aid

Organizers say Syrian authorities have barred hundreds of activists from crossing into the country to deliver aid to victims of the Syrian regime’s deadly crackdown on anti-government dissidents. (more…)

Russian Ship Carrying Arms Reached Syria, report

A Russian ship, allegedly carrying tons of weapons, made a dash for Syria after Cypriot officials allowed it to leave their waters, Turkish officials said Thursday.

The ship had made an unscheduled stop in Cyprus Tuesday, technically violating an EU embargo on arms shipments to Syria, which has killed thousands in a crackdown on dissent. (more…)

Turkey seizes 5 Iranian trucks with ‘military materials’ on way to Syria

Istanbul – Turkish customs officials seized a fifth Iranian truck on Wednesday. This development comes after four other trucks were seized on Tuesday on suspicion of carrying arms to Syria, state news agency Anatolian reported. (more…)

Turkey may end help to India on Iran Oil Payments, report

Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS (HALKB) told Indian oil (IOCL) refiners it may no longer be able to be an intermediary for their purchases of Iranian crude, four people with knowledge of the matter said. (more…)

Syria warns Turkey, Lebanon against supporting the opposition

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Maqdad has warned Turkey against supporting what he called “armed terror groups” operating across the border, saying the terror might turn against Turkey one day as well.

Recalling Friday’s suicide attack that took the lives of 26 people in central Damascus, (more…)

Iran says Turkey is best place for nuclear talks

Iran’s foreign minister said Thursday that Turkey is the best place for further talks with world powers about Iran’s nuclear program, according to a report carried by an Iranian news agency.

The report by the semiofficial Isna agency said Ali Akbar Salehi expressed Iran’s agreement after Turkey announced its readiness to host the talks. (more…)

Airstrike on Turkey-Iraq border kills 35 people, report

A Turkish airstrike on the border with Iraq killed 35 people who are now thought to have been smuggling cigarettes, a senior Turkish lawmaker said Thursday. (more…)

French parliament passes Armenian genocide bill

France’s parliament passed a controversial Armenian genocide draft law Thursday, making it a crime to publicly deny the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks last century, a National Assembly press officer said. (more…)