http://www.mail.com/organizations/1317006-syria-government.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.20/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/organizations/1317006-syria-government.html http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763426-russia-acknowledges-assad-losing-control.html MOSCOW (AP) — Syria's most powerful ally, Russia, said for the first time Thursday that President Bashar Assad is losing control of his country and the rebels might win the civil war, dramatically shifting the diplomatic landscape at a time of enormous momentum for the opposition. While Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov gave no immediate signal tha... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:20:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763426-russia-acknowledges-assad-losing-control.html 2012-12-13T11:20:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761806-official-syria-fires-scud-missiles-rebels.html KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Syrian government forces have fired Scud missiles at insurgents in recent days, escalating the 2-year-old conflict against rebels seeking to overthrow the regime, U.S. officials said Wednesday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, two officials said forces of President Bashar Assad have fired the missiles from the Damascus area in... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 05:24:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761806-official-syria-fires-scud-missiles-rebels.html 2012-12-13T05:24:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760524-us-hesitant-condemning-north-korean-launch.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is drawing no "red line" for North Korea after a successful long-range rocket test, tempering the public condemnation to avoid raising tensions or possibly rewarding the reclusive communist nation with too much time in the global spotlight. The U.S. has told the world that it won't tolerate Iran's acquisition of ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 01:11:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760524-us-hesitant-condemning-north-korean-launch.html 2012-12-13T01:11:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760466-us-syria-opposition-disagree-terrorist-label.html MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — The U.S. and the head of the new Syrian opposition coalition being feted at a conference in Morocco Wednesday publicly disagreed over designating a rebel group as terrorist, highlighting a key dilemma in overthrowing President Bashar Assad's regime. Even as the U.S., Europe and its allies recognized the new opposition of the sole... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:00:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760466-us-syria-opposition-disagree-terrorist-label.html 2012-12-12T21:00:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761244-blast-syrian-regime-building-capital-kills-5.html BEIRUT (AP) — Three bombs collapsed walls in the Syrian Interior Ministry building Wednesday in Damascus, killing at least five people, as rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar Assad edged closer to the capital, the symbol of his power. The blast came as more than 100 countries recognized the opposition umbrella group as the legitimate representat... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:33:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761244-blast-syrian-regime-building-capital-kills-5.html 2012-12-12T19:33:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761906-civil-war-splits-syrias-artists.html BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian filmmaker Joud Said was planning to attend the world premiere of his latest work at the Dubai International Film Festival when the bad news came: his movie had been yanked from the program. "I knew right away it was for political reasons," he said. The film wasn't overtly political, but it was produced with help from the regime of Bas... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:07:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761906-civil-war-splits-syrias-artists.html 2012-12-12T18:07:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1757614-obama-us-recognizes-syrias-main-rebel-group.html WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama declared Syria's main opposition group the sole "legitimate representative" of its country's people Tuesday, deeming the move "a big step" in the international diplomatic efforts to end Syrian President Bashar Assad's embattled regime. Obama said the newly formed Syrian Opposition Council "is now inclusive enough" ... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1757614-obama-us-recognizes-syrias-main-rebel-group.html 2012-12-11T22:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1757688-extremists-syrian-rebels-who-seized-base.html BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian rebels including Islamic extremists took full control of a sprawling military base Tuesday after a bloody two-day battle that killed 35 soldiers, activists said. It was the latest gain by opposition forces bolstered by an al-Qaida-linked group that has provided skilled fighters but raised concerns in the West. The Sheik Suleiman milit... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:29:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1757688-extremists-syrian-rebels-who-seized-base.html 2012-12-11T19:29:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1757914-experts-russia-to-stay-course-assad.html MOSCOW (AP) — Recent hopes that the Kremlin would end its support of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad melted quickly, and analysts say Moscow ultimately may change its stance only if Assad ends up cornered. Russia's refusal to join the West in calling for Assad's ouster is rooted both in a sober geopolitical calculus and deep suspicions about Western intenti... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1757914-experts-russia-to-stay-course-assad.html 2012-12-11T15:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755368-syrian-rebels-capture-parts-army-base-north.html BEIRUT (AP) — Rebels captured part of a sprawling Syrian army base outside the embattled northern city of Aleppo, tightening the opposition's grip on areas close to the Turkish border, activists said Monday. The gains by rebel forces came as the European Union denounced the Syrian conflict, which activists say has killed more than 40,000 people. "The curr... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:07:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755368-syrian-rebels-capture-parts-army-base-north.html 2012-12-10T18:07:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755600-germany-expels-syrian-diplomats.html BERLIN (AP) — Germany has expelled four employees of the Syrian embassy in Berlin in a diplomatic move to put pressure on the regime of President Bashar Assad. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Monday the expulsion of the four, whose identities weren't released, sends a "clear sign that we are reducing relations with the Assad government to an absol... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:43:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755600-germany-expels-syrian-diplomats.html 2012-12-10T11:43:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1753958-syrias-civil-war-spills-lebanon-4-dead.html BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's civil war spilled over into neighboring Lebanon once again on Sunday, with gun battles in the northern city of Tripoli between supporters and opponents of President Bashar Assad's regime that left four dead. Nine Syrian judges and prosecutors also defected to the opposition. It was the latest setback for the regime, which appears inc... Sun, 09 Dec 2012 19:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1753958-syrias-civil-war-spills-lebanon-4-dead.html 2012-12-09T19:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1752702-syrian-rebels-leadership-bid-to-unite.html BEIRUT (AP) — Rebel commanders from across Syria have joined forces under a united command they hope will increase coordination between diverse fighting groups and streamline the pathway for arms essential to their struggle against President Bashar Assad. While many of the brigades involved in the fighting are decidedly Islamist in outlook and some have b... Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:50:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1752702-syrian-rebels-leadership-bid-to-unite.html 2012-12-08T19:50:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1751696-chemical-weapons-risk-syrian-missiles-shells.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Growing fear that civil war in Syria could unleash the world's first use of chemical weapons in nearly three decades is based on two grim scenarios — neither considered likely but both carrying risks of civilian massacre and a major escalation of violence. The first is that President Bashar Assad, in a last-ditch effort to save his regim... Fri, 07 Dec 2012 20:51:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1751696-chemical-weapons-risk-syrian-missiles-shells.html 2012-12-07T20:51:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1750484-syrian-rebels-set-sights-damascus-airport.html BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad set their sights Friday on the capital's international airport in a bid to cut off the regime's supplies, clashing with government troops nearby and again forcing the closure of the airport road. A fighter who is part of the push against Damascus International Airport declared it a legi... Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1750484-syrian-rebels-set-sights-damascus-airport.html 2012-12-07T19:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1750244-russia-fumes-us-bill-reset-plan-takes-hit.html MOSCOW (AP) — What happened to the "reset"? U.S.-Russian ties have again plunged into acrimony amid disputes ranging from disagreement on Syria to Russian President Vladimir Putin's clampdown on dissent. A U.S. bill intended to lift Cold War-era trade restrictions but also containing sanctions against Russian officials accused of rights abuses has become ... Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1750244-russia-fumes-us-bill-reset-plan-takes-hit.html 2012-12-07T19:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1750624-us-works-with-russia-syria-wants-assad.html BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday that the United States and Russia are committed to trying again to get President Bashar Assad's regime and the rebel opposition to talk about a political transition in Syria, setting aside a year and a half of U.S.-Russian disagreements that have paralyzed the international community. ... Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:34:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1750624-us-works-with-russia-syria-wants-assad.html 2012-12-07T17:34:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1747608-with-war-shifting-us-russia-talk-syrias-future.html DUBLIN (AP) — Diplomatic efforts to end Syria's civil war moved forward Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joining Russia's foreign minister and the U.N. peace envoy to the Arab country for extraordinary three-way talks that suggested Washington and Moscow might finally unite behind a strategy as the Assad regime weakens. In Wash... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:39:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1747608-with-war-shifting-us-russia-talk-syrias-future.html 2012-12-06T20:39:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1749048-syrian-capital-maze-checkpoints-blast-walls.html Instead of a quick half-hour trip home from her class at Damascus University, Lama Issa says she now must maneuver through security checkpoints, army tanks and blast walls — a two-hour journey that is often terrifying. That's the new price of an uneasy security these days in the Syrian capital, the seat of power for President Bashar Assad. Rebels have set... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:46:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1749048-syrian-capital-maze-checkpoints-blast-walls.html 2012-12-06T18:46:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1747478-nato-moves-toward-deployment-syria-border.html BEIRUT (AP) — As fears grow in the West that Syrian President Bashar Assad will unleash chemical weapons as an act of desperation, NATO moved forward Thursday with its plan to place Patriot missiles and troops along Syria's border with Turkey to protect against potential attacks. Assad's regime blasted the move as "psychological warfare," saying the new d... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:07:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1747478-nato-moves-toward-deployment-syria-border.html 2012-12-06T18:07:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1747462-germans-patriot-missiles-to-defend-turkey.html BERLIN (AP) — Germany's Cabinet on Thursday approved sending German Patriot air defense missiles to Turkey to protect the NATO member against possible attacks from Syria, in a major step toward a possible Western military role in the Syrian conflict. Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters that two batteries with a total of 400 soldiers would b... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 08:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1747462-germans-patriot-missiles-to-defend-turkey.html 2012-12-06T08:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1744010-syrian-civil-war-spills-lebanon.html TRIPOLI, Lebanon (AP) — The families of Lebanese men killed in Syria last week say their relatives were more interested in nice clothes and vacations than fighting a civil war. Yet Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime branded them foreign jihadists — and their deaths set off three days of new spillover violence. Gunmen loyal to opposite sides in Syria's... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:11:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1744010-syrian-civil-war-spills-lebanon.html 2012-12-05T21:11:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1745762-us-aware-assad-asylum-offers.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration said Wednesday that several countries in the Middle East and elsewhere have informally offered to grant asylum to Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family if they leave Syria. Administration officials also said they were continuing to encourage those close to Assad to defect and said they believed that Syrian... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1745762-us-aware-assad-asylum-offers.html 2012-12-05T18:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1745296-officials-us-to-blacklist-syrian-rebel-group.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is preparing to designate a Syrian rebel group with alleged ties to al-Qaida as a foreign terrorist organization in a step aimed at blunting the influence of extremists within the Syrian opposition, U.S. officials said Wednesday. Word of the move came as the State Department announced that Secretary of State Hill... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:48:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1745296-officials-us-to-blacklist-syrian-rebel-group.html 2012-12-05T16:48:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1741586-fighting-surges-syrian-capital-damascus.html BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's civil war is closing in on President Bashar Assad's seat of power in Damascus with clashes between government forces and rebels flaring around the city Tuesday, raising fears the capital will become the next major battlefield in the 20-month-old conflict. Numerous reports emerged of at least a dozen people killed near the ancient cit... Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:06:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1741586-fighting-surges-syrian-capital-damascus.html 2012-12-04T19:06:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1741504-nato-backs-patriot-anti-missile-system-turkey.html BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO announced Tuesday that it will deploy Patriot anti-missile systems near Turkey's southern border, shoring up defenses against the threat of cross-border attacks from Syria and bringing the United States and its allies closer to Syria's civil war. The alliance's 28 members decided to limit use of Patriots solely for the defensive purpo... Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:04:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1741504-nato-backs-patriot-anti-missile-system-turkey.html 2012-12-04T18:04:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1739124-us-weighing-military-options-syria-uses-wmd.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House and its allies are weighing military options to secure Syria's chemical and biological weapons, after U.S. intelligence reports show the Syrian regime may be readying those weapons and may be desperate enough to use them, U.S. officials said Monday. President Barack Obama, in a speech at the National Defense University on... Tue, 04 Dec 2012 01:34:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1739124-us-weighing-military-options-syria-uses-wmd.html 2012-12-04T01:34:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1739016-un-pulling-staff-syria-violence-capital.html BEIRUT (AP) — Fighting between rebels and government forces raged near the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday, forcing an inbound commercial jet to turn back while the U.N. said it was withdrawing staff because of deteriorating security conditions. Lebanese security officials said Jihad Makdissi, a polished Foreign Ministry spokesman known for defending th... Tue, 04 Dec 2012 01:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1739016-un-pulling-staff-syria-violence-capital.html 2012-12-04T01:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1737862-syrian-warplanes-strike-rebels-damascus-suburbs.html BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian warplanes and artillery blasted parts of the capital Damascus and its rebellious suburbs on Sunday, part of what activists described as intense fighting as rebels try to push their way into the center of President Bashar Assad's power base. In central Syria, a car bomb killed at least 15 people, the official news agency reported. The ... Sun, 02 Dec 2012 17:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1737862-syrian-warplanes-strike-rebels-damascus-suburbs.html 2012-12-02T17:41:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1738112-ap-exclusive-strife-hardens-syrian-rebel-brigade.html MAARET MISREEN, Syria (AP) — A year ago, a soft-spoken sweet shop owner from this poor Syrian town got together with his little brother and eight friends to declare war on President Bashar Assad. They didn't have enough guns to go around. Their leader, 35-year-old Mustafa Filfileh, had no real military experience and little idea how to face one of the Mid... Sun, 02 Dec 2012 15:36:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1738112-ap-exclusive-strife-hardens-syrian-rebel-brigade.html 2012-12-02T15:36:00Z