Syrians Take to Streets in Test of Annan Cease-Fire Plan

Syrians took to the streets to demonstrate against President Bashar al-Assad, emboldened by a cease-fire negotiated by United Nations’ envoy Kofi Annan that took effect today after a year of deadly violence. (more…)

Fighting rages in countdown to Syria truce

Syria was due to observe a ceasefire from dawn on Thursday, but its fierce attacks on opposition neighbourhoods in the run-up to the U.N. deadline fuelled widespread doubts it would comply.
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Syria fires across Lebanon, Turkey borders

Syrian forces opened fire across two tense borders Monday, killing a TV journalist in Lebanon and wounding at least six people in a refugee camp in Turkey on the eve of a deadline for a cease-fire plan that seems all but certain to fail.

A witness at the Turkish camp said he saw two refugees killed, (more…)

Annan to visit Syrian refugees in Turkey on route to Iran

International mediator Kofi Annan will visit a camp for Syrian refugees in Turkey on Tuesday en route for talks with senior officials in Iran, his spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said on Monday.

“Mr Annan will visit a refugee camp in Turkey tomorrow (Tuesday) on his way to Iran,” Fawzi told Reuters in Geneva. (more…)

Turkey Accuses Syria of Firing Across Border

Turkish officials said on Monday that Syrian government forces had opened fire across the Turkish border late on Sunday and wounded three people close to one of the largest refugee camps housing Syrian nationals. (more…)

Istanbul to host nuclear talks, says Iranian state TV

An Iranian state television station reported Sunday that international negotiations about the country’s disputed nuclear program will take place in Istanbul, indicating that disagreements over the venue that had threatened to derail the talks may be resolved. (more…)

Obama’s signal to Iran

By David Ignatius
President Obama has signaled Iran that the U.S. would accept an Iranian civilian nuclear program if Ayatollah Khamenei can back up his recent public claim that his nation “will never pursue nuclear weapons.”

Syrian refugees flood Turkey

The Turkish government reported a record number of refugees fleeing Syrian military offensives across the border, just days before a Syrian government pledged to withdraw military forces from population centers.

In 24 hours at least 2,741 Syrians fled down smugglers’ paths (more…)

Turkish PM: Iran insincere about nuclear talks venue

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Iran’s proposal to hold talks next week with six world powers on its disputed nuclear programme in Damascus or Baghdad instead of Istanbul was insincere.

“The offer going round at the moment, Damascus or Baghdad, is a waste of time, it means it won’t happen, because they know the other side won’t come to Damascus or Baghdad,” (more…)

Russia attacks “Friends of Syria” gathering, calls it one-sided

Russia said on Monday that the “Friends of Syria” meeting in Istanbul at the weekend contradicted the objective of reaching a peaceful settlement that could end more than a year of bloodshed. (more…)