Attacks in Syria’s Homs resume as protests sweep Sweidaa

Armored forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad thrust deeper into the central city of Homs on Wednesday, firing rockets and mortar rounds to subdue opposition districts, activists said, a day after Russia said Assad wants peace, as protests sweep Sweidaa, home to Syria’s Druze. (more…)

GCC states Recall Ambassadors From Syria, Expel Syrian Diplomats

Gulf Arab countries announced on Tuesday they were recalling their ambassadors from Damascus and expelling Syrian envoys in response to worsening violence in Syria.

Syria’s rulers had rejected Arab attempts to “solve this crisis and prevent the bloodshed of the Syrian people,” a statement from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said. (more…)

GCC, Turkey urge Syria to accept Arab League peace plan

The Arab plan, which envisages President Bashar al-Assad transferring power to his deputy and the formation of a national unity government within two months, has been rejected by Syria. (more…)

Syria agrees to extend Arab League observer mission

Syria has agreed to extend the mandate of the Arab League observer mission by a month, Syria’s state-run news agency Sana reports. (more…)

Gulf countries leave Arab League mission in Syria

A key bloc of Gulf Arab nations has withdrawn its representatives from the Arab League monitoring mission in Syria, the group said Tuesday.

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council said it took the step because of the persistence of bloodshed in Syria and a “lack of commitment” by the government (more…)

GCC tells Iran to ‘stop meddling in its internal affairs

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council called on arch rival Iran on Tuesday to stop meddling in the internal affairs of the group’s members.

“Stop these policies and practices … and stop interfering in the internal affairs” of the Gulf nations, said a statement released at the end of the GCC annual summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh. (more…)

Citizens of Arabian Gulf have been urged to leave Syria

The Saudi Kingdom urged its citizens on Tuesday to leave Syria as soon as possible to avoid getting caught in a government crackdown on popular protests, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi foreign ministry Tuesday urged its citizens to leave Syria and not to travel to the Arab nation (more…)

Arabian Gulf states call for end to Syrian bloodshed

Gulf Arab states have broken their silence on the bloodshed in Syria, as activists say at least 26 more people were killed Friday in the government’s crackdown on opposition protesters.

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council issued a statement Saturday calling for an immediate end to the violence and for the implementation of reforms. (more…)

Syria promises free election, but opposition lost confidence in Assad

The Syrian military tightened its suffocating siege on the city of Hama on Saturday in its drive to crush the main center of the anti-regime uprising in the country, even as the foreign minister promised that free parliamentary elections would be held by the end of the year in a gesture of reform. (more…)

Yemeni president refuses to sign GCC plan

An accord reached through the Gulf Cooperation Council that would have paved the way for the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh fell through after he insisted opposition parties attend a public signing ceremony at the presidential palace. (more…)