Removing Assad ‘not Our Priority’
The US ambassador to the United Nations said Thursday that Washington is no longer focused on ousting President Bashar al-Assad as it seeks ways to end Syria's civil war. "You pick and choose your...
Tag: political solution
Evacuation Deal Reached For Four Syrian Towns
Four Syrian towns are to be evacuated under an agreement between pro-government forces and rebels, in the latest of a series of deals to end crippling years-long sieges. The agreement, brokered by...
Syria Rebels Launch Fresh Assault On East Damascus
Rebels and jihadists on Tuesday launched a fresh assault on east Damascus, two days after Syrian government forces rebelled an initial attack just a few kilometres from the centre of the capital. An...
New Round of Syria Talks Set For March 23
Syria's government and opposition groups are invited to resume peace talks in Geneva on March 23, the UN envoy said Wednesday, as the United States pledged support for the negotiations. Staffan de...
Two Dead In Bombing of Syria Rebel Bastion Despite Truce
Two people were killed on Wednesday in bombardment of a Syrian rebel bastion near Damascus, a monitor said, less than 24 hours after Russia announced a freeze in fighting there. "A young man and a...
Syrian Government Says Agenda Agreed, Seeks United Opposition At Next Geneva Talks
Syria's chief negotiator said on Saturday that the "only thing" achieved at 10-day talks in Geneva was an agreed agenda and that the government wanted a unified opposition delegation as its...
Syria Torture Victims File Criminal Case In Germany
Seven Syrian torture survivors, two lawyers and a human rights group have filed a criminal complaint in Germany against secret service officials of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, the initiative...
Famine-Hit South Sudanese Eat Water Lilies To Survive
Thousands of people at the epicentre of a man-made famine in South Sudan emerged from the safety of the swamps this past weekend hoping to receive emergency deliveries of food. For months now Bol...
Hiding In Swamps, S.Sudanese Eat Little More Than Lilies
Thousands of people at the epicentre of a man-made famine in South Sudan emerged from the safety of the swamps this past weekend hoping to receive emergency deliveries of food. For months now Bol...
UN Syria Talks Open As Blast Reflects Fragility of Truce
The first full day of a fresh round of Syria peace talks began in Geneva Friday as a suicide bombing killed 42, underlining the fragile state of a ceasefire on the ground. The UN's Syria envoy...
Rival Syrian Camps Due In Geneva Ahead of Talks
Rival Syrian camps were due in Geneva Wednesday for UN-brokered talks to end the six-year conflict with persistent violence and deadlock over the country's political future dampening hopes of a...
Years of Failed Efforts To End Syrian Conflict
Since the start of Syria's war in 2011, several diplomatic initiatives have stumbled over the future of President Bashar al-Assad. Here is a recap: In January 2012, two months after an initial bid to...
Who’s Who In Syria Conflict As Geneva Talks Loom
Syrian government officials and opposition figures will gather in Geneva on Thursday for the fourth round of UN-brokered talks aimed at ending their country's brutal six-year conflict. Here is a...
Syria Regime Shelling ‘bloody Message
The leading Syrian opposition body on Sunday lambasted escalating attacks by government forces as a "bloody message" aimed at sabotaging peace talks that are due to open in Geneva next week. The High...
UN Envoy Questions US Engagement On Syria
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura on Sunday questioned US President Donald Trump's engagement in solving the Syrian conflict, just days ahead of crucial peace talks in Geneva. "Where is the US in all this?...
US Under Pressure On Syria Stance Ahead of Geneva Talks
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday faces a grilling by global peers seeking clarity about Washington's position on the Syria conflict ahead of crunch UN peace talks in Geneva. On the...
Efforts To Fight Terrorism In Syria Cannot Succeed Without Political Solution
Efforts to fight terrorism and extremists in Syria cannot succeed without a political solution supported by its people, the UN Secretary-General said on Saturday. António Guterres met with Turkish...
Turkish Troops, Syria Rebels Enter IS-Held Town
Turkish troops and Syrian rebels on Saturday entered the Islamic State-held town of Al-Bab in northern Syria, as government forces moved closer to the jihadist bastion, a monitor said. Turkish...
Russia, Turkey, Iran Discuss Syria Ceasefire In Astana
Representatives from Russia, Turkey and Iran have kicked off a technical meeting in Kazakhstan's capital Astana to discuss details of the implementation of the Syrian ceasefire agreement. The meeting...
Sudan Opposition Leader Back From Exile To ‘end War’
Khartoum (AFP) - Sudanese opposition leader and ex-prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi returned from exile Thursday, more than two years after he fled abroad, saying he wants to "end the war". Mahdi, whose...