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Six Ukrainians evacuated from Syria

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:48:26 +0300

Kiev, May 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Six Ukrainian nationals have been evacuated from Syria and have returned to Kiev, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said.

West may boost Syria rebels if Assad won't talk peace

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:45:37 +0300

* Kerry says thousands of Hezbollah fighters in Syria * Rebels call for reinforcements in Qusair * Russia says rebels not committed to peace talks * 'Friends of Syria' pledge more backing for rebels (Adds Kerry quote, final Friends of Syria communique) By Arshad Mohammed and Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN, May 22 (Reuters) - Washington threatened on Wednesdayto increase support for Syria's rebels if President Basharal-Assad refuses to discuss a political end to a civil war thatis spreading across borders. ...

Friends of Syria demands Hezbollah, Iran fighters withdraw

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:57:44 +0300

(Adds details) AMMAN, May 23 (Reuters) - The Friends of Syria alliancecalled on Iran and its Lebanese Hezbollah ally on Thursday towithdraw fighters immediately from Syrian territory anddescribed their armed presence in the country as a threat toregional stability. ...

Friends of Syria demands withdrawal of Hezbollah, Iran fighters

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:01:35 +0300

AMMAN, May 23 (Reuters) - The Friends of Syrian alliancecalled on Iran and its Lebanese Hezbollah ally on Thursday towithdraw fighters immediately from Syrian territory anddescribed their armed presence in the country as a threat toregional stability. In a communique issued after a meeting in Amman, thealliance said any transitional government in Syria beingproposed as a core of a U.S. and Russian peace initiative musthave authority over the army and the executive, which are now inPresident Bashar Assad's hands. ...

General says Israel poised for war on Syria if Assad falls

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:40:45 +0300

* Israel eyes possible knock-on wars with Hezbollah, Iran * Fears "strategic looting" of Syria's advanced weaponry * Worried by Russian-supplied air defences such as S-300 (Adds news quotes, paragraphs 3-4) By Dan Williams HERZLIYA, Israel, May 22 (Reuters) - Israel is poised for alarge-scale assault on Syria to prevent advanced weaponsreaching jihadi rebels or Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon ifPresident Bashar al-Assad is toppled, Israel's air force chiefsaid on Wednesday. ...

Kerry warns Syria's Assad against rejecting political solution

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:57:03 +0300

* Military support to Assad exacerbates problem, Kerry says * Syria says will decide soon whether to attend peace talks (Adds Kerry quote at start of meeting) By Arshad Mohammed AMMAN, May 22 (Reuters) - Western governments are ready toincrease support to opponents of President Bashar al-Assad if herejects a political solution to Syria's civil war, U.S.Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday. ...

Turkey shuts Syria border crossing after deadly bombs

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:21:59 +0300

* Bomb-detecting equipment to be stationed at gate * Twelve people facing charges over bombings that killed 51 * Turkish PM to visit Reyhanli on May 30 * Police detain six on suspicion of planning attacks onSyrians (Adds Erdogan to visit Reyhanli, background) By Jonathon Burch ANKARA, May 22 (Reuters) - Turkey has shut its side of thelast border crossing with Syria still controlled by PresidentBashar al-Assad's government, stepping up security following twodeadly bombings this month. ...

Syria to decide soon on peace talk participation -minister

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:43:27 +0300

* Russian FM Lavrov meets Syrian deputy foreign minister * Minister says Syria will decided after return to Damascus * Lavrov says Syrian opposition lacks commitment to talks (Recasts with end of talks) By Steve Gutterman MOSCOW, May 22 (Reuters) - Syrian President Basharal-Assad's government will decide soon whether to take part inpeace talks with the opposition, a senior Syrian diplomat saidafter talks in Moscow. Asked whether Damascus had committed to joint Russian-U.S. ...

Madrid meeting exposes divisons in Syrian opposition

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:40:53 +0300

Madrid, Asharq Al-Awsat—A two-day meeting of the Syrian opposition in Madrid ended yesterday, with agreement on few issues except the refusal to negotiate with a Syrian government led by Bashar Al-Assad.The conference’s final resolution called on the international community to ensure that Assad has “no role in the decisions taken regarding Syria’s transition period or the future of the country. ...

France says Syria's Assad must give up power to end war

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:39:47 +0300

(Adds quotes, background) AMMAN, May 22 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assadmust turn over power to a transitional government in order for aU.S.- and Russian-backed peace conference to have any chance ofsuccess, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said onWednesday. "It is perfectly clear that the main aim of this possibleconference is to bring in a transitional government for Syriawhich will have the full executive power," Fabius said before ameeting of the Friends of Syria alliance in Jordan's capital. "The position of France is ... ...

Fighting displaces 70-80% of Palestinians in Syria: UN

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:54:37 +0300

The conflict in Syria has displaced more than two-thirds of Palestinian refugees living in the country, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees said on Wednesday.

General says Israel ready to attack Syria should Assad fall

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:12:13 +0300

* Israel faces possible conflict on three fronts * Fears "strategic looting" of Syria's advanced weaponry By Dan Williams HERZLIYA, Israel, May 22 (Reuters) - Israel is prepared toattack Syria to prevent advanced weapons reaching jihadi rebelsor Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon if President Bashar al-Assadis toppled, Israel's air force chief said on Wednesday. Major-General Amir Eshel also said Israelis should brace fora protracted and painful conflict should their forces engage incombat with Hezbollah or its main backer, Iran. ...

(Blank Headline Received)

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:31:22 +0300

Sectarian violence over Syria war rages in Lebanon's Tripoli

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:17:55 +0300

TRIPOLI, Lebanon, May 22 (Reuters) - Lebanese supporters ofrival factions in Syria's civil war battled overnight in thecity of Tripoli in the worst such bout of spillover violencesince the conflict started two years ago. One person was killed and many were wounded as Sunni andShi'ite Muslim gunmen fired mortar bombs and rocket-propelledgrenades at each other in a fifth day of clashes in the coastalcity, security sources said on Wednesday. ...

Iran, Hezbollah increasing support for Assad - Britain

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:59:15 +0300

* Hague urges date for international conference to be set * Says risk to regional stability growing each day (Adds quotes on arms embargo, Jordanian comment) By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN, May 22 (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary WilliamHague said on Wednesday Iran and its militant Shi'ite Lebaneseally Hezbollah were "propping up" Syrian President Basharal-Assad and giving him increasing support. "It is very clear that Syrian regime is receiving a greatdeal of support, increasing support in recent months fromoutside Syria from Hezbollah and Iran. ...