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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Senate committee that heard Kerry/Hagel/Dempsey yesterday is now convening, likely to vote on resolution to use force, NYT Congressional reporter Jonathan Weisman tweets:In a hush, the foreign relations committee is convening. Present: Rubio, Menendez, Cardin, Durbin Kaine, T. Udall, McCain, Paul
— Jonathan Weisman (@jonathanweisman) September 4, 2013 -
Kerry stresses to the House panel that resolution to use force in Syria is "not about regime change," but rather a "limited" operation that will punish Assad for chemical weapons attacks. It's been a repeated distinction in the hearings this week, but it does beg questions about American plans for how Assad's regime might respond or alter its approach, either by choice or necessity, in the aftermath of a strike. Here's how the BBC's State Department correspondent put it:
Key q that shud b asked is whether Obama admin has planned properly for days/weeks after #Syria strike. Haven't heard much abt that yet
— Kim Ghattas (@BBCKimGhattas) September 4, 2013 -
AFP reports large parts of Syria saw power cuts today. According to the Syrian electricity minister, a power line was sabotaged by "terrorists," a term the government uses to describe anti-regime rebels. -
Code Pink protester Medea Benjamin holds up a sign. REUTERS/Jason Reed
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Secretary of Defense Hagel estimates cost of limited military strike against Syria at "tens of millions" of dollars. -
Patricia Zengerle reports: the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday approved a resolution authorizing the use of military force in Syria by a vote of 10-7, with one senator merely voting "present." The vote by the panel clears the way for a vote on the resolution in the full Senate, likely next week. -
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Syria's economy goes underground as black market thrives
With his truck fully laden with vegetable oil, driver Mustafa Demir makes his regular trip to the Syrian border from Turkey to sell to rebels desperate for provisions as war closes off normal trade channels.
"There is so much demand from the Syrian side. There is demand for everything. Last time I was carrying paper napkins," he said.
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A reminder that Christians and Muslims live together in #Maaloula #Syria and they speak #Aramic
— ElHelou (@ElHelou) September 5, 2013 -
Read my piece on Understanding British Jihadis huff.to/1edWEAv @HuffingtonPost #Syria articles challenges the narrativeby Tam Hussein via twitter 9/5/2013 9:54:50 AM -
Charting the destruction in Syria, the latest slideshow from Reuters:
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UN officials call for political solution to Syrian crisis as number of refugees fleeing the violence passes the two million mark. Julie Noce reports.
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Iran's Khamenei warns of U.S. loss over intervention in Syria
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's most powerful authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the United States was using a chemical attack in Syria as a pretext to interfere in the country and warned it would suffer loss from its intervention, Mehr news agency reported on Thursday.
"In the case of Syria, the chemical attack is a pretext and they say they want to get involved because of humanitarian issues. America has made a mistake in Syria and will certainly suffer loss," Khamenei told a meeting of the Assembly of Experts, a state body. -
U.N. Syria envoy to press G20 leaders on peace conference
The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, will hold discussions on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit to push for an international conference to be held on ending Syria's civil war.
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The New York Times reports on a violent video smuggled out of Syria.
READ: Brutality of Syrian Rebels Posing Dilemma in West -
BRICS states fear strike on Syria could hurt world economy -Russia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Leaders of the BRICS group of emerging economies expressed concern on Thursday during talks at a Group of 20 summit that a military strike on Syria could hurt the world economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said.
"It was noted within BRICS dialogue that among the factors that could negatively affect the global economic situation are the consequences of the eventual foreign intervention into Syrian affairs. Such consequences can have an extremely negative effect on global economy," Dmitry Peskov said.
The BRICS group includes China, Russia, Brazil, India and South Africa.
(Reporting by Alexei Anishchuk; Writing by Steve Gutterman, Editing by Timothy Heritage) -
Syrian refugees play with a tire at the Domiz refugee camp in the northern Iraqi province of Dohuk, September 2, 2013. REUTERS/ Haider Ala
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Russia says Syrian Foreign Minister to visit Moscow on Monday
MOSCOW - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem will travel to Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
The ministry said talks will focus on "the current situation in Syria", where the United States is mulling a military strike after Washington said it had evidence that President Bashar al-Assad used chemical arms against civilians.
(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by Thomas Grove) -
Syrian refugees, who failed to find a shelter in a refugee camp, sit in their makeshift tent under the shadow of a tree, a few meters away from the Oncupinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border, in the southeastern city of Kilis September 5, 2013. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
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Al Jazeera International: Lebanon anger grows over Syrian refugees
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Obama's plan on Syria hinges on "undecideds" in Congress
WASHINGTON - The fate of a U.S. congressional resolution to authorize a military strike against Syria is in the hands of dozens of lawmakers from both parties who are so far publicly undecided on how they will vote.
With many Democrats non-committal, it could come down to President Barack Obama's ability to persuade normally loyal liberals in his own party to stick with him.
Read the full report by Thomas Ferraro and Rachelle Younglai here. -
Obama cancels trip to California next week to work on Syria vote -White House
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has canceled a trip to California next week so that he can stay in Washington "to work on the Syrian resolution before Congress," a White House official said on Thursday.
Obama has asked Congress to authorize a military strike in Syria after a chemical weapons attack on civilians two weeks ago, but many lawmakers from both parties have said they are undecided on whether to support the president's request.
(Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Steve Holland; Editing by Eric Beech) -
Russian warships are seen passing through the Bosphorus headed to the Mediterranean. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).
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READER COMMENT: I've found that the BBC documentary "A History of Syria with Dan Snow" provides valuable insight into the history of this ancient country and how such a history is glaringly relevant to Syria's current conflict. www.youtube.com -
Palestinian militants sit in a truck during a protest against peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as possible U.S. attacks on Syria, in the northern Gaza Strip September 6, 2013. The protest was organized by Hamas militants and other Palestinian factions. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem
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Syria offers bounty for foreign "terrorists"
BEIRUT (Reuters) - For the first time in Syria's 2-1/2 year conflict, the government is offering a bounty to anyone who captures a foreign "terrorist" - the word authorities use for rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
In a brief statement on Syrian television, authorities said they would give 500,000 Syrian pounds to anyone who brought in a "non-Syrian terrorist" and 200,000 pounds to anyone who gave information on their whereabouts or helped apprehend them.
The pound officially trades at 128 to the dollar, but the black market rate stands is about 200 to the dollar.
State media said the identities of those who provided information would be kept secret and their "protection ensured".
In an indication that it would grant amnesty to rebels who informed on their comrades, state television added: "Their affairs will be settled if they are Syrians who have been wanted in recent events." -
A Shi'ite Muslim places his foot upon an effigy symbolizing the U.S. and the U.S. national flag, while protesting with others against the Arab League and possible U.S. attacks on Syria, in Peshawar September 6, 2013. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz
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AP reporter to State Dept.: 'Was there a group spine-removal procedure’ on Syria? politi.co/17V0qOrby politico via twitter 9/6/2013 11:51:30 AM -
Peggy Noonan on #Syria : Fight is not between left & right but between American public & Washington. on.wsj.com/1cNkjpVby Jim Roberts via twitter 9/6/2013 11:52:28 AM -
U.S. Senator John McCain faced angry constituents opposed to military action in Syria during a town hall meeting in Arizona. Sarah Toms reports.
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China's Xi tells Obama Syria crisis can't be resolved with military strike
By Sui-Lee Wee
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping told his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on Friday that the crisis in Syria should not be resolved through a military strike and urged him to consider a political solution, state news agency Xinhua said.
Xi's are the highest-level comments from China since an August 21 chemical weapons attack in Syria. They follow remarks by a foreign ministry spokesman, who urged a role for the U.N. Security Council in resolving the crisis after the United States said it had given up trying to work with the council on Syria.
"A political solution is the only right way out for the Syrian crisis, and a military strike cannot solve the problem from the root," Xinhua quoted Xi as telling Obama on the sidelines of a G20 summit in St. Petersburg in Russia.
"We expect certain countries to have a second thought before action."
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U.S. says evacuates non-emergency staff from Beirut embassy
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Friday it had evacuated non-emergency personnel and family members from its embassy in the Lebanese capital Beirut, as Congress debates a military strike on neighbouring Syria.
"The Department of State drew down non-emergency personnel and family members from Embassy Beirut due to threats to U.S. Mission facilities and personnel," a statement on the Beirut embassy's website said. -
Syria peace envoy Brahimi says no strikes without U.N. approval
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - The United Nations peace envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, said on Friday no state had the right to "take the law into their hands" and conduct military action against Syria without U.N. Security Council approval.
Brahimi spoke on the sidelines of a G20 summit after meetings with foreign ministers including Russia's Sergei Lavrov, who said many nations realise that striking Syria without Security Council backing would scuttle the chances of reaching a political solution. -
U.S. moves to reduce diplomatic personnel in Turkey over threats
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Friday moved to reduce its diplomatic presence at its consulate general in Adana, Turkey, due to security threats, it said in a statement.
"The Consulate General in Adana has been authorized to draw down its non-emergency staff and family members because of threats against U.S. government facilities and personnel," the department said.
It also recommended "that U.S. citizens defer non-essential travel to southeastern Turkey," the statement said. -
As lawmakers hear from constituents on Syria, the Obama-allied nonprofit says it won't get involved. reut.rs/17CxCIp @ReutersPoliticsby Gabriel Debenedetti via twitter 9/6/2013 4:14:29 PM -
House Republicans Say Constituents Are Strongly Opposed to a Syria Strike nyti.ms/17DVKdA Fact: GOP opposition isnt all Obama animusby jonathanweisman via twitter 9/6/2013 4:15:42 PM -
.@samsteinhp and @johnson round up the competitive Senate candidates' stances on Syria huff.to/165h0IFby Elise Foley via twitter 9/6/2013 4:15:59 PM -
Air Force One is wheels up from St Petersburg carrying Pres Obama back to Washingtonby Steve Holland via twitter 9/6/2013 5:17:09 PM -
. @SenFeinstein to @SenatorReid as they enter yet another classified briefing on #Syria : "I wish we were somewhere else."by michaelmathes via twitter 9/6/2013 6:06:49 PM -
We're expecting Ambassador Power to start speaking any minute. In the meantime, feel free to join us and reader pfaliano in enjoying the ambiance:
READER COMMENT from pfaliano: The background conversations are fascinating. Lots of joking, talk of numbers, somebody joking about Bradley Manning and about 5 minutes ago two individuals were using the word paranoia multiple times in their conversation. -
While we wait, check out the Reuters/Ipsos polling since August on the question of whether the U.S. should intervene if the Syrian military uses chemical weapons:
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Power being introduced now, with emphasis on Power's work documenting acts of genocide and how this informs her work addressing a crisis like Syria.
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Power opens her speech repeating the administration's position that strikes on Syria will be limited, but necessary given the violation of norms inherent in Syria's use of chemical weapons. Power acknowledges the reasons Americans might be averse to using military force, particularly in light of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars this past decade.
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Amb. Power describes father in Ghouta upon finding his daughters dead from Syria attack: "Wake up; what will i do without you?"by Jim Roberts via twitter 9/6/2013 6:28:39 PM
Putin says Russia will follow up fast after Ukraine call with Biden
MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would send ideas to Washington within a week to follow up his talks with U.S. President Joe Biden on the Ukraine crisis.
