U.S. Warns It May Close Embassy in Syria

The continuing violence in Syria prompted the United States on Friday to warn that it may close its embassy here in the capital unless the Syrian government acts on a request to bolster security around the compound. (more…)

Syria: 39 killed in Daraa on Monday

Eyewitnesses say that at least 39 people were killed and 70 others wounded on Monday in the southern city of Daraa. The latest deaths came after a violent three day weekend of crackdowns starting with the “Good Friday Massacre.”
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U.S. orders some embassy staff, dependents to leave Syria

The U.S. State Department said on Monday it has ordered some non-essential U.S. embassy officials in Damascus and all embassy dependents to leave Syria because of the “uncertainty and volatility” in the country. Reuters

Hezbollah MP denounces US embassy request on Lebanese telecom

Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah chaired a Media and Telecommunications Commission meeting at the parliament on Tuesday to discuss As-Safir’s report alleging that the US embassy requested from the Internal Security Forces (ISF) information on communications in Lebanon.
The Interior Ministry transferred the request to the Telecommunications Ministry.
Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, ISF Director General Ashraf, Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas and former Telecom Minister Gebran Bassil attended the meeting.
Following the meeting Fadlallah said: We discussed the U.S. embassy’s demand of information from the telecom ministry. This is a dangerous issue and hits at national sovereignty.
Fadlallah did not reveal what type of information the embassy asked for . Hezbollah operates a parallel Telecon network in Lebanon.

U.S. Ambassador meets with ministers of public works and energy

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michele J. Sison met Thursday with Minister of Energy and Water Gebran Bassil and Minister of Public Works and Transportation Ghazi Aridi.

At the Ministry of Energy and Water, Ambassador Sison and Minister Bassil discussed the details of the pending Memoranda of Understanding between the U.S. government and the Ministry for two new water projects funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) totaling $28 million. USAID’s Lebanon Water and Wastewater Sector Support program will assist all four Lebanese water authorities maintain financial and operational sustainability and USAID’s Litani River Basin Management Support program will provide technical support to the Litani River Authority.
At the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, Ambassador Sison and Minister Aridi discussed the ministry’s public works project priorities for the coming year.
Ambassador Sison conveyed to both ministers the United States government’s desire for continued cooperation with the Lebanese government on important economic growth, development and reform priorities. Source: US embassy