Syria
Live coverage of the conflict in Syria, including the international response to the Aug. 21 2013 chemical attack. For our current live blog on Syria, go to: http://live.reuters.com/Event/The_battle_for_Syria
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Reuters' Roberta Rampton and Jeff Mason write that Obama's decision to consult with Congress is in line with an argument he has often made for a more collaborative approach to foreign policy in Washington than there was under his predecessor, President George. W. Bush.
READ: Obama asks Congress to approve military strike against Syria -
President Barack Obama sent legislation to Congress on Saturday formally asking for approval to use military force in Syria to "deter, disrupt, prevent and degrade" the potential for further chemical attacks. -
In Pictures: Reuters photographer Muzaffar Salman takes us inside a secret rebel bakery in Syria.In these photos, workers use flour to bake and package bread inside a secret bakery that belongs to the Free Syrian Army, according to activists, in Aleppo, Syria. Pictures taken on August 31, 2013.
A bag of flour is carried by a worker inside the bakery. Reuters/Muzaffar Salmanby Margarita Noriega (Reuters)
A bag of flour is poured into a vat for preparation to bake. Reuters/Muzaffar Salmanby Margarita Noriega (Reuters)
A worker helps to make sure baked bread is properly cooking on an assembly line in the bakery. Reuters/Muzaffar Salmanby Margarita Noriega (Reuters)
Baked bread is packaged. Reuters/Muzaffar Salmanby Margarita Noriega (Reuters)PreviousNext1 of 4
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READER COMMENT: Will US attack makes situation in Syria better? The answer in no and most people would agree with me. -
Obama's Syria decision: a walk, a debate, and a new approach
By Roberta Rampton and Jeff Mason
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At the end of the day on Friday, after laying out a strong public case for U.S. military action in Syria, President Barack Obama took a 45-minute walk around the South Lawn of the White House with his chief of staff, Denis McDonough.
They discussed Obama's options for using force.
Despite saying for days that he had not yet made a decision, the president had been leaning toward military intervention since initial reports from his advisers that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons to kill innocent civilians near Damascus, senior officials said on Saturday.
But after a week of laying the groundwork for a targeted attack, Obama had begun to waver about immediate action. Britain, Washington's closest ally, had opted out of an international coalition after its parliament said "no," a decision that weighed on the president.
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France's Hollande facing pressure for deputies to vote on Syria
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande reaffirmed to U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday his will to punish Syria for a suspected chemicals weapons attack but was under increasing pressure to put the intervention to parliament.
Obama and Hollande spoke by telephone before Obama's statement that he would seek authorisation from Congress before any strike.
"The president reaffirmed to him his determination to act to sanction the regime," a source close to Hollande said. "Each country's pace of action must above all be respected. It's important for the Americans to have the green light from Congress."
However, pressure was now mounting on Hollande to also seek formal approval from parliament, which is due to hold a non-voting debate on Syria on September 4.
"Like the U.S. president, who decided to consult the U.S. Congress in the name of democratic principles, the French president must organise, after the debate, a formal vote in parliament," Jean-Louis Borloo, the head of French opposition party UDI, said in a statement.
A BVA poll on Saturday showed most French people did not want France to take part in military action on Syria and most did not trust Hollande to do so.
Hollande, whose popularity has been hurt by economic gloom, showed unexpected military mettle when he dispatched troops to help Mali's government fend off Islamist rebels earlier this year, an intervention backed by two-thirds of the public. -
France will not act alone in Syria, PM to meet parliament heads
PARIS (Reuters) - French Interior Minister Manuel Valls said on Sunday France would not act alone in Syria but would await a decision by the U.S. Congress on whether to launch an attack against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
"France can not go it alone," Valls told Europe 1 radio. "We need a coalition."
France's prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, is scheduled to meet with the heads of the two houses of parliament and the opposition on Monday to discuss the Syrian situation ahead of a parliamentary debate on Wednesday. -
A hawkish Kerry emerges as point man in Obama's push to punish Syria
By Arshad Mohammed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When the Senate takes up whether to back White House plans to attack Syria, there may be few more effective or passionate lobbyists for the administration than Secretary of State John Kerry, who was a member of that exclusive club for 28 years.
Kerry last week described Syria's suspected use of chemical weapons as "a moral obscenity" and, in a separate appearance, called Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "a thug and a murderer."
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A woman holds a placard against the Syrian government during a rally against the governments of Syria and Egypt in central Sydney September 1, 2013. Hundreds attended a rally in protest against governments in Syria and Egypt. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz
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I suspect that In future years the world will come to thank President Obama many times over for allowing Congress to ratify military action.by tom_watson via twitter 9/1/2013 9:21:31 AM -
Results of Reuters/Ipsos poll of Americans' opinion on whether the U.S. should intervene in Syria's fighting between government and anti-government forces.
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Pope calls international day of prayer for peace in Syria
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday urged the international community to seek a negotiated solution to the conflict in Syria and announced he would lead a worldwide day of prayer for peace in the country on September 7.
Francis condemned the use of chemical weapons, blamed by Western powers on Syrian government forces, but added: "war, never again". The United States and France are considering military action against Damascus in response to the chemical attack.
The pope asked the 1.2 billion Roman Catholics around the world to pray for peace in Syria on September 7 and said he would lead a special service at the Vatican.
He invited other Christians, members of other religions and all "people of good will" to join the Catholic initiative on September 7 in any way they saw fit. -
Let us pray for peace: peace in the world and in each of our hearts.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) September 1, 2013 -
Obama's Congress request marks U.S. "retreat" - Syrian state media
BEIRUT (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's decision to seek Congressional approval before going ahead with a military strike on Syria was the start of a U.S. "retreat", Syrian state media said on Sunday.
"Obama announced yesterday, directly or through implication, the beginning of the historic American retreat," the comments, which were carried in a front-page editorial in Syria's official al-Thawra newspaper, said. -
Iran says world opinion against attack on Syria
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Sunday world opinion stood against any international attack on its ally Syria, pointing to the British parliament's rejection of military action.
"The Americans don't see the wave of hatred of people against their warmongering policies and continue to pursue military actions against Syria, even though these actions have been thwarted in the U.N. Security Council and the British parliament has stated its opposition to military activity," Larijani said, according to the ISNA news agency.
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Saturday he had decided to take military action against Syria for its apparent use of chemical weapons but would seek congressional consent, a move likely to delay U.S. action for at least 10 days. France announced on Sunday it would not act alone.
Iran has said the poison gas attack on civilians was carried out by rebels trying to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, not Assad's government.
Another Iranian legislator, Abdolreza Azizi, in a speech on Sunday warned against the intervention of "international deceivers".
"Iranians, Muslims, and freedom-seekers of the world are standing for their belief in peace in the region and they will not compromise on that, let alone tolerate an attack on another Muslim country like Syria which is at the forefront of the resistance," Azizi said, according to parliamentary news agency Icana.
Iran considers Syria and Lebanese Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah part of an "axis of resistance" against Western and Israeli influence in the Middle East, and has warned that any attack on Syria would engulf the region.
The commander of Iran's Basij paramilitary force, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, said on Saturday the United States was using the alleged chemical attack as a pretext "to deal a blow to the resistance in Syria" to protect its ally Israel, according to Iran's English-language Press TV.
An Iranian parliamentary delegation in Damascus met Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem on Sunday, Iran's Press TV said, broadcasting images of the talks.
In meetings on Saturday with Syrian officials, the head of the delegation, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, expressed Iran's "readiness to provide all the assistance needed for Syria to stay strong," Press TV said. -
Glenn Greenwald on Obama, Congress and Syria - "That the US will not become involved in foreign wars of choice without the consent of the American people through their representatives Congress is a central mandate of the US Constitution, not some enlightened, progressive innovation of the 21st century." www.theguardian.com
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Netanyahu mum on Obama's Syria delay but says Israel strong alone
By Dan Williams
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu played up Israel's ability to take on its enemies alone on Sunday after Washington delayed attacking Syria in a surprise move that prompted some Israelis to question their main ally's resolve on Iran.
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Saturday he would ask Congress to vote on whether to launch strikes to punish the Damascus government for a poison gas attack that killed hundreds of civilians.
The hold-up jarred Israelis who see in the Syria showdown a test of the Americans' ability to make good on a pledge to deny Iran the means to make a nuclear bomb through military force if diplomatic alternatives fail.
"Israel is serene and self-confident," Netanyahu said in public remarks to his cabinet before its weekly meeting.
"Israel's citizens know well that we are prepared for any possible scenario. And Israel's citizens should also know that our enemies have very good reasons not to test our power and not to test our might," he said.
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ASSAD SAYS U.S. THREAT WILL NOT CHANGE SYRIA'S PRINCIPLES, OR HALT ITS FIGHT AGAINST 'TERRORISM' - TV
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Secretary of State John Kerry told NBC’s “Meet the Press” this morning that samples taken from the alleged Aug. 21 chemical arms attack in Syria have tested positive for Sarin, a nerve agent.
While U.N. inspectors said yesterday that evidence it gathered during a probe of the attack site near Damascus could take weeks, Kerry told NBC that the evidence was gathered from “first responders in east Damascus” and included blood and hair samples.
[NBC/Reuters] -
This morning's New York Post cover, via www.newseum.org
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NY Daily News front cover today, via: www.newseum.org
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President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday Syria was capable of confronting any external attack after U.S. President Barack Obama said there should be a military strike on Syria.
"Syria ... is capable of confronting any external aggression," state television quoted Assad as saying at a meeting with Iranian officials.
Continue Reading: www.reuters.com -
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FORMER IRAN PRESIDENT RAFSANJANI SAYS PEOPLE IN SYRIA ARE "TARGET OF CHEMICAL ATTACKS BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT" - ILNA NEWS AGENCY
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Markets reaction courtesy of Ryan Vlastelica, Reuters markets reporter
MICHAEL YOSHIKAMI, CEO and Founder at Destination Wealth Management in Walnut Creek, California:
Markets have been very concerned about any military action, and seeking congressional approval will act as a delay, and that’s a positive. There’s still uncertainty about whether any action will take place, but a delay will let investors calm down and assess things. There was a lot of concern that there would be unilateral military action, because that could have had a major impact on oil prices, which in turn would have impacted GDP and consumer spending—not what we want to see with economic growth still so slow. -
Nine questions about Syria you were too embarrassed to ask - Washington Post
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REUTERS PICTURE: A Free Syrian Army fighter makes coffee in the old city of Aleppo, September 1, 2013. REUTERS/Molhem Barakat
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As Obama blinks on Syria, Israel, Saudis make common cause
JERUSALEM/RIYADH - If President Barack Obama has disappointed Syrian rebels by deferring to Congress before bombing Damascus, he has also dismayed the United States' two main allies in the Middle East.
Israel and Saudi Arabia have little love for each other but both are pressing their mutual friend in the White House to hit President Bashar al-Assad hard. And both do so with one eye fixed firmly not on Syria but on their common adversary - Iran.
Israel's response to Obama's surprise move to delay or even possibly cancel air strikes made clear that connection: looking soft on Assad after accusing him of killing hundreds of people with chemical weapons may embolden his backers in Tehran to develop nuclear arms, Israeli officials said. And if they do, Israel may strike Iran alone, unsure Washington can be trusted.
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French ministers rebuff opposition call for Syria vote
PARIS - 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 attacks.
President Francois Hollande's demands for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to be punished for an alleged chemical strike have left him out on a limb since Britain's parliament voted against taking part in any action and U.S. President Barack Obama said he would seek Congress approval before any assault.
Hollande is the army's commander in chief under the French constitution and empowered to order an intervention. His sole obligation is to inform parliament within three days of action starting.
Continue Reading: preview.reuters.com -
REUTERS PICTURE: Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters inspect the remains of a jet fighter, which FSA said belongs to forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, after it crashed in Deir al- Zor September 2, 2013. It is unclear as to what caused the crash, with some members of the FSA claiming they shot it down. REUTERS/Mohamad Alfarati
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BREAKING: Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will testify at public senate hearing on Syria on Tuesday. (Reuters)
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U.S. lawmakers began work on Monday on their version of an authorization of the use of military force in Syria, Reuters' reporters Patricia Zengerle and Susan Cornwell write, worrying that President Barack Obama's draft could open the door to possible use of ground troops or eventual attacks on other countries.
READ: Obama authorization for Syria too broad for some lawmakers -
White House open to changes on Syria authorization -official
WASHINGTON - The White House is prepared to rework language in a draft resolution authorizing military force in Syria to address concerns from lawmakers, an administration official said on Monday.
The official said the administration was open to changes "within the parameters that (the) president has previously explained."
(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Eric Beech) -
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New York Times: Vote on Syria sets up foreign policy clash between 2 wings of G.O.P.
The Congressional vote on whether to strike Syria will offer the best insight yet on which wing of the Republican Party — the traditional hawks, or a growing bloc of noninterventionists — has the advantage in the fierce internal debates over foreign policy that have been taking place all the year.
Plus: Find out where U.S. lawmakers might stand on Syria in this interactive. [Washington Post] -
One area where State and DOD agree re Syria is that CIA's covert effort to lightly arm certain rebels will have zero impact.by MicahZenko via twitter 9/3/2013 12:40:36 AM -
Reuters Video: Russian legislators tell President Vladimir Putin they want to fly to Washington and meet with U.S. lawmakers ahead of a critical vote on whether the U.S. should carry out military strikes on Syria. Deborah Gembara reports.
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Reuters' John Irish reports that France will not intervene alone in Syria if the U.S. Congress votes against action, President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday.
Continue reading.
Brexit will happen on Oct. 31 despite PM's unsigned delay request, UK says
LONDON The British government insisted on Sunday the country will leave the European Union on Oct. 31 despite a letter that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced by parliament to send to the bloc requesting a Brexit delay. | Video
