Syria’s Assad says U.S. military will fail if it intervenes
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned Washington in an interview published on Monday in Russia that any U.S. military intervention in Syria would fail and denied that his forces had used chemical weapons.
As Bo trial ends in China, prosecutor demands severe punishment
JINAN, China (Reuters) – Chinese prosecutors demanded a heavy sentence for ousted top politician Bo Xilai as his divisive, dramatic trial ended on Monday, saying his “whimsical” challenge to charges of bribery, graft and abuse of power flew in the face…
China supports U.N. investigation in Syria, urges caution
BEIJING (Reuters) – China supports an independent and objective investigation by U.N. experts into allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, China’s foreign minister said on Monday, while urging a cautious response and political resolution t…
Thousands of Bahrainis march peacefully for democratic reforms
MANAMA (Reuters) – Thousands of Bahrainis were allowed to march peacefully outside Manama calling for democratic reforms on Friday, 10 days after police cracked down on scattered protests organized by an online group inspired by recent demonstrations i…
At least two mortar bombs hit Damascus near U.N. team’s hotel
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – At least two mortar bombs struck a wealthy district of central Damascus on Monday, in the same area where a team of United Nations inspectors are staying as they investigate alleged chemical weapons attacks.
France says would be hard to bypass U.N. in action against Syria
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s foreign minister said on Monday no decision had been made yet on whether to take military action against Syria, but doing so outside the auspices of the U.N. Security Council would be problematic.
Britain says Syria response possible without unanimous U.N. backing
LONDON (Reuters) – British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Monday it would be possible to respond to chemical weapons use in Syria without the unanimous backing of the United Nations Security Council.
Snowden got stuck in Russia after Cuba blocked entry: newspaper
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden got stuck in the transit zone of a Moscow airport because Havana said it would not let him fly from Russia to Cuba, a Russian newspaper reported on Monday.
Turkey would join coalition against Syria, says foreign minister
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey would join any international coalition against Syria even if a wider consensus on action cannot be reached at the U.N. Security Council, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was quoted as saying on Monday.
Russia concerned about possible U.S. military response in Syria
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has expressed its concern to Washington that the United States will respond militarily to a suspected chemical weapons attack by Syrian government forces and urged restraint, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
