Obama, Canada’s Harper discuss Syria, potential responses: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama and Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke by phone on Tuesday about the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government and pledged to consult closely on potential responses, the White House…
Merkel faces pre-election balancing act on Syria
BERLIN (Reuters) – Just four weeks before she hopes to win a third term as German chancellor, Angela Merkel faces an unexpected problem that could damage her chances – how to respond to shocking pictures of a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria….
Tunisia PM says state must stay strong amid jihadi threat
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s Islamist Prime Minister Ali Larayedh said on Tuesday he was ready to step aside for a caretaker cabinet to hold new elections, but would not create a power vacuum while the country faced serious security and economic challen…
France says ready to punish those who gassed civilians
PARIS (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday that France stood ready to punish the perpetrators of a chemical attack in Damascus last week and would increase its military support to the Syrian opposition.
Britain drafts military plans for Syria, recalls parliament
LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron recalled parliament to debate Britain’s response to a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria, after his spokesman said plans were being drawn up for possible military action.
Arab League blames Syria’s Assad for chemical attack
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Arab League squarely blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday for a gas attack near Damascus and urged the U.N. Security Council to act, providing what diplomatic sources said was political cover for a possible U.S. stri…
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.
