Afghan police deaths double as foreign troops withdraw
KABUL (Reuters) – Police deaths in Afghanistan have doubled this year after withdrawing NATO forces handed security of the war-ravaged country to poorly equipped local troops with less frontline experience fighting Taliban insurgents.
France says can’t act alone on Syria, wants to create coalition
PARIS (Reuters) – France aims to build a coalition of countries to back military action against the Syrian government in response to a chemical weapons attack in Damascus, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday.
French intelligence: Syria’s Assad behind chemical attack
PARIS (Reuters) – Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad carried out a “massive and coordinated” chemical attack in Damascus on August 21, according a French intelligence report shown to lawmakers on Monday, a government source said.
Pro-Syria hackers put anti-attack message on U.S. Marines site
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Computer hackers aligned with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad struck an Internet recruiting site for the U.S. Marine Corps on Monday, urging troops to “refuse your orders” if the United States attacks Syria.
Italy denies plans for Friends of Syria meeting in Rome
ROME (Reuters) – The Italian foreign ministry denied reports on Monday that the Friends of Syria group of nations would meet in Rome this weekend.
Shippers brace for more Suez turmoil after vessel attack
LONDON (Reuters) – An attack by assailants on a container ship in the Suez canal has heightened risks for merchant shipping using the vital waterway, with further threats considered likely as political turmoil continues in Egypt.
U.N. team visits Iranian dissident camp in Iraq after killings
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A U.N. team visited an Iranian dissident camp in Iraq on Monday following violence that killed dozens of people a day earlier in disputed circumstances.
Friends of Syria to meet on Sept 8 in Rome: source
ROME (Reuters) – The core group of nations making up the Friends of Syria will meet on September 8 in Rome, a diplomatic source said on Monday.
Russian MPs want to fly to Washington to sway Syria vote
NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia (Reuters) – Russian lawmakers want to travel to Washington to urge the U.S. Congress not to back President Barack Obama’s plan for military strikes on Syria, the speaker of the upper house of parliament told President Vladimir Put…
French ministers rebuff opposition call for Syria vote
PARIS (Reuters) – Senior members of France’s ruling party rebuffed opposition calls for a parliamentary vote on whether to take military action against Syria, saying on Monday lawmakers should respect the president’s constitutional right to decide on a…
