Polish government down to wafer-thin majority after MP quits
WARSAW (Reuters) – A Polish lawmaker quit the ruling Civic Platform party on Tuesday, leaving Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s coalition with just a three-seat majority in parliament as it struggles to revive a faltering economy.
Russia-Belarus potash dispute ignites diplomatic row
MOSCOW/MINSK (Reuters) – Russia demanded on Tuesday the release of the head of Russian company Uralkali, whose arrest in Belarus threatens to turn a business dispute that shook the $20-billion global potash market into a major diplomatic row.
France will not shirk duty on Syria: source
PARIS (Reuters) – France “will not shirk its responsibilities” in response to a suspected chemical attack in Damascus by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a French diplomatic source said on Tuesday.
Israel says will respond with force to any attack from Syria
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel was not involved in Syria’s civil war, but would respond forcefully to any attempts to attack it.
Syrian opposition says Assad’s forces drop phosphorus bombs near Aleppo
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Syria’s opposition coalition said on Tuesday President Bashar al-Assad’s forces had dropped phosphorus bombs and napalm on civilians in rural Aleppo on Monday, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens.
Saudi foreign minister says decisive stand needed against Syria
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said on Tuesday the international community must take a “decisive and serious” stand against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
France won’t shirk duties after Syria chemical attack: source
PARIS (Reuters) – France “will not shirk its responsibilities” in response to a suspected chemical attack in Damascus by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a French diplomatic source said on Tuesday.
Syria attack perpetrators must face justice: Arab League
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Arab League said on Tuesday that those behind the chemical attack in Syria should face international justice, and called on U.N. Security Council members to overcome their differences and take action to end the killing there.
Exclusive: Syria strike due in days, West tells opposition – sources
AMMAN (Reuters) – Western powers have told the Syrian opposition to expect a strike against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces within days, according to sources who attended a meeting between envoys and the Syrian National Coalition in Istanbul.
U.S. military ready to act on Syria immediately if asked: Hagel
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Reuters) – The U.S. military is ready to act immediately should President Barack Obama order action against Syria over a chemical weapons attack, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a television interview with the BBC on Tuesday….
