White House calls for U.N. probe of alleged Syria gas attack
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House expressed alarm on Wednesday about reports of a massive deadly chemical weapons attack by Syrian government forces and called urgently for a United Nations investigation into the incident.
Europe shies away from cutting aid for Egypt
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union stopped short of agreeing immediate cuts in financial or military assistance to Cairo on Wednesday, as the bloc’s foreign ministers held emergency talks to find ways to help bring an end to violence in Egypt.
U.N. in talks with Syria over alleged chemical attack
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Chief U.N. chemical weapons inspector Ake Sellstrom is in discussions with the Syrian government over an alleged chemical weapons attack on Wednesday and is following the situation carefully, the United Nations said.
Pakistani seminary furious over U.S. ‘terrorist’ tag
PESHAWAR (Reuters) – Students and teachers at a Pakistani Islamic school designated as a “terrorist training center” by the United States furiously rebutted the charges Wednesday and said they had not had a chance to defend themselves against the accus…
U.S. military chief sees more room to boost moderate Syrian rebels
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military could – if asked – significantly boost American support to Syria’s moderate opposition, the top U.S. military officer said, suggesting moderates were still unable to shape events should President Bashar al-Assad…
U.N. chemical arms inspector in talks with Syria on new attack
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Chief U.N. chemical weapons inspector Ake Sellstrom is in discussions with the Syrian government over an alleged chemical weapons attack on Wednesday and is following the situation carefully, the United Nations said.
France delays contentious overhaul of entrepreneur status
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s government on Wednesday postponed a parliament debate on a draft law that curtails tax breaks and other advantages for small-scale entrepreneurs, angering business owners who say the delay creates legal confusion.
Syrians retrieve ‘sleeping’ dead after alleged chemical attack
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The men, women and children lying undisturbed in their beds had looked so peaceful they might have been just sleeping, Abu Nidal thought, as he and other rescuers dragged their bodies into the street.
U.S., Britain, France to seek UN probe of Syria attack: diplomats
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States, Britain and France will officially ask U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday to open a U.N. investigation into an alleged gas attack in Syria, U.N. diplomats said on condition of anonymity.
Mubarak, Egypt’s ‘Pharaoh’, ordered freed from jail
CAIRO (Reuters) – When President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a 2011 revolt and later jailed, Egyptians who rose up against him hoped he would be a convict for life, or executed.
