Middle East
Syria violence kills eight even as UN mission grows (17.05.2012)
(Source:Reliefweb)
Violence in Syria cost at least eight lives on Saturday even as a UN force to oversee a truce neared half its planned strength, monitors said, while an Islamist group claimed deadly blasts in Damascus.
Syria opposition head 'to resign' (17.05.2012)
(Source:BBC)
The head of Syria's main opposition alliance, the Syrian National Council, has said he will resign amid growing criticism and rifts within the group.
Assad blames ‘terrorists’ for violence in rare interview (17.05.2012)
(Source:VOA News)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in a rare television interview that his government is fighting foreign-backed terrorists – not democracy activists – as part of his 14-month crackdown against an opposition uprising. The interview with Russian television suggested Mr. Assad has little intention of ending his deadly crackdown on dissent, despite international condemnation and a peace plan that calls for a ceasefire.
Syria election results show support for reforms, says Assad (16.05.2012)
(Source:BBC)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that the results of last week's parliamentary elections prove people support his government's reforms. … The election commission said on Tuesday that turnout was 51% for the polls, which the opposition said were a farce.
Abbas to resume statehood bid in UN: official (16.05.2012)
(Source:Xinhua)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will resume diplomatic efforts to obtain statehood through the United Nations after starting to "despair of" resuming peace negotiations with Israel, a Palestinian official said Wednesday.
Bomb explodes near UN observer convoy in Syria (09.05.2012)
(Source:UN News)
The UNSMIS delegation – led by Head of Mission and Chief Military Observer Major-General Robert Mood – was on its way from Damascus for a visit to Dar'a, under Syrian army escort.
“Arms flowing” between Lebanon and Syria (09.05.2012)
(Source:Al-Jazeera)
UN special envoy says weapons are being smuggled in both directions, and warns region is "at brink of war".
U.N. envoy says Syria continues to violate cease-fire (08.05.2012)
(Source:New York Times)
Offering a gloomy assessment of the nearly month-old cease-fire in Syria, Kofi Annan, its main architect, said Tuesday that despite some decrease in military assaults, continuing “serious violations” could undermine the full peace plan.
Syrians vote for new parliament amid boycott calls (07.05.2012)
(Source:BBC)
The elections, promised last year by President Bashar al-Assad, were the first in 40 years not to guarantee a majority for the ruling Baath Party. Opposition groups dismissed them as a sham, calling for a boycott.
Palestinians and the end of the peace process – new ICG report (07.05.2012)
(Source:International Crisis Group)
The bad news is the U.S. presidential campaign, Arab Spring, Israel’s focus on Iran and European financial woes portend a peacemaking hiatus. The good news is such a hiatus is badly needed.