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Posts tagged with the keyword: ‘bashar al assad’

Arab ministers to discuss “toothless” Syria mission

Arab ministers to discuss “toothless” Syria mission

Arab League foreign ministers meet on Sunday to discuss whether to ask the U.N. to help their mission in Syria, which has failed to end a 10-month-old crackdown on unrest that has killed thousands. Qatar proposes inviting U.N. technicians and human rights experts to help Arab monitors judge whether Syria is honouring its pledge to [...]

Syria Presses on With Crackdown as Qatar Suggests UN Help

Syria Presses on With Crackdown as Qatar Suggests UN Help

Syria pressed on with a crackdown on dissent after Qatar’s premier suggested that United Nations assistance is needed to improve the Arab League’s monitoring of government compliance with a plan to end the violence. “This is the first time the Arab League is involved in sending monitors, and there are some mistakes,” Qatari Prime Minister [...]

Arab League Falters in Syria as Options Dwindle

Arab League Falters in Syria as Options Dwindle

The Arab League has raised questions about its commitment to halting Syria’s deadly crackdown on protesters by putting a Sudanese general with close ties to an indicted war criminal in charge of a monitoring mission intended to hold the regime accountable. The first 50 members of an envisioned 150-person monitoring group arrived in Syria on [...]

Syrian activists urge mass rally amid observer visit

Syrian activists urge mass rally amid observer visit

Syrian activists have called for massive street demonstrations on Friday against President Bashar al-Assad, as Arab observers continue their mission. Correspondents say the presence of the monitors has emboldened the protesters, despite further killings. Up to 40 died on Thursday, activists said, mostly after security forces shot at crowds gathered in areas expecting a visit [...]

Turkish Airstrikes Kill Smugglers Mistaken as Separatists

Turkish Airstrikes Kill Smugglers Mistaken as Separatists

The Turkish military said Thursday that it had accidently killed at least 35 Turkish cigarette smugglers in airstrikes after mistaking them for separatist fighters in the Kurdish border region with Iraq, infuriating many of Turkey’s long-oppressed Kurds. Most of the dead were between 17 and 20 years old. Political opponents denounced the prime minister, and [...]

Arab League monitors head to Syrian opposition stronghold

Arab League monitors head to Syrian opposition stronghold

A fact-finding team is expected to travel Thursday to the Syrian opposition stronghold of Daraa where it will monitor an Arab League initiative that calls for President Bashar al-Assad’s security forces to end a violent crackdown on anti-government groups. The trip follows mounting criticism from opposition groups over the selection of a Sudanese military commander [...]