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5 hours 8 min ago - United States

The deaths of two Western journalists in Syria are "another example of the shameless brutality" of the Syrian regime, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told AFP news agency on Wednesday.

Nuland was referring to US-born Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin and freelance French photojournalist Remi Ochlik, who were killed in the city  of Homs on Wednesday by shelling from President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Tags homs, syria, victoria nuland
4 days 20 hours ago - Washington DC

US National Security Advisor Tom Donilon will travel to Israel on Saturday for consultations with senior Israeli officials on a range of issues, including Iran and Syria, the White House has said.

The top White House aide's visit "is the latest in a series of regular, high-level consultations between the United States and Israel, consistent with our strong bilateral partnership, and part of our unshakable commitment to Israel's security," a White House statement said.

[AFP]

Tags AFP, iran, Israel, syria, United States
5 days 23 hours ago - Egypt

Egypt's prime minister and the head of the influential seat of Islamic learning, al-Azhar, praised a campaign by an Islamist scholar to raise donations as a substitute for US aid that is threatened by a stand-off over civil society groups. 

The campaign spearheaded by prominent Salafi scholar Mohamed Hassaan calls on Egyptians to pay 10 pounds ($1.66) each in response to US threats to cut aid to Egypt over investigations that have resulted in charges against 19 Americans.

"The Egyptian people never accept to be insulted or humiliated ... This people won't kneel to anyone but God," Hassaan said in a TV interview broadcast this week.

Egypt has a population of 85 million, many of whom live under the poverty line. Were each to heed his call, the campaign would raise $141.6 million.

The row with Washington is one of the worst in more than 30 years of close US-Egyptian ties.

US officials have said $1.3 bn in annual US military aid to Cairo is at risk, along with some $250 million in economic aid. 

Hassaan has a wide following among Egyptians. Speaking about his campaign, Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Abul Naga said the government had received 60 million pounds in donations so far.

In two separate meetings with Hassaan on Thursday, Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri and Azhar's Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb praised his efforts.

- Reuters

Tags Cairo, Islamists, NGOs, United States
6 days 1 min ago - Egypt

A top Republican lawmaker called for "punitive action" Thursday against Egyptian officials for the crackdown on US democracy advocates.

Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, singled out Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Abul Naga.

"The Egyptian government's actions cannot be taken lightly and warrant punitive actions against certain Egyptian officials, and reconsideration of US assistance to Egypt," Ros-Lehtinen told a House hearing.

"While the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces bears ultimate responsibility for this strain in relations, the minister of international cooperation should not be exempt from punitive actions."

It was the latest in a drumbeat of congressional outrage over raids on pro-democracy groups in Egypt, and charges against American activists.

US lawmakers from both parties have stepped up their warnings that Egypt's crackdown will force a review of the $1.3 bn in US military aid to the longtime Middle Eastern ally if the crisis is not quickly resolved.

"I truly believe we are approaching a precipice beyond which our bilateral relations could suffer permanent damage," Democratic Representative Gary  Ackerman said Wednesday.

- Agence France Presse

Tags fayza aboulnaga, NGOs, United States
1 week 1 day ago - China

A top Chinese official and US Secretary of  State Hillary Clinton held "frank and in-depth" talks on Syria by telephone Monday as Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping began a visit to the United States.

China and Russia have faced a barrage of international criticism this month for blocking a UN Security Council resolution condemning the bloody crackdown on protesters in the Middle East country.

State Councillor Dai Bingguo and Clinton -- a fierce critic of China's veto decision -- had "a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the current Syria situation", the official Xinhua news agency said Tuesday.

Dai told Clinton that the violence was "essentially Syria's internal affair" and China backed efforts by the Arab League to resolve the conflict through political means, Xinhua said.

He added that China's position on Syria had been "objective and fair and its attitude was responsible", the report said.

Clinton, who has described the UN Security Council veto as a "travesty" and accused China and Russia of "protecting the brutal regime" in Damascus, said the United States would continue to discuss Syria with China.

[Source: AFP]

Tags Dai Bingguo, Hillary Clinton, syria, United States
1 week 2 days ago - Washington
A year on from when the uprising began, Bahrain has responded, in part, to calls for change made by an independent commission.
 
The US supports those recommendations, but critics say neither Bahrain nor Washington has done enough to foster democratic reforms in the Gulf nation. 

Al Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan reports from Washington DC.
Tags Bahrain, Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, Democratic reform, United States
2 weeks 2 days ago - Syria


The United States closed its embassy in Syria and pulled out remaining staff on Monday after Damascus refused to address security concerns, senior State Department officials said.

Tags Bashar al Assad, damascus, United States
2 weeks 4 days ago - United States

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday that it was time for the UN Security Council to "act decisively" on Syria after admitting she failed to bridge differences with Russia.

Clinton's remarks came as Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning the Syrian government's deadly crackdown on protests for the second time.

Tags Hilary Clinton, Russia, syria, UN Security Council
2 weeks 4 days ago - United States
The most recent statement of  US President Barack Obama on Syria:
  
Thirty years after his father massacred tens of thousands of innocent Syrian men, women, and children in Hama, Bashar al-Assad has demonstrated a similar disdain for human life and dignity.  Yesterday the Syrian government murdered hundreds of Syrian citizens, including women and children, in Homs through shelling and other indiscriminate violence, and Syrian forces continue to prevent hundreds of injured civilians from seeking medical help.  These brutal killings take place at a time when so many Syrians are also marking a deeply meaningful day for their faith.  I strongly condemn the Syrian government’s unspeakable assault against the people of Homs and I offer my deepest sympathy to those who have lost loved ones.  Assad must halt his campaign of killing and crimes against his own people now.  He must step aside and allow a democratic transition to proceed immediately.
   
The Syrian people demonstrated in large numbers across Syria yesterday to participate in peaceful protests commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Hama massacre.  They labeled the protests, “We are Sorry, Hama – Forgive Us.”  We owe it to the victims of Hama and Homs to learn one lesson: that cruelty must be confronted for the sake of justice and human dignity.  Every government has the responsibility to protect its citizens, and any government that brutalizes and massacres its people does not deserve to govern.  The Syrian regime’s policy of maintaining power by terrorizing its people only indicates its inherent weakness and inevitable collapse.  Assad has no right to lead Syria, and has lost all legitimacy with his people and the international community.
  
The international community must work to protect the Syrian people from this abhorrent brutality.  Earlier this week, our Arab partners called on UN Security Council members to take action to support a political solution to the crisis in Syria and stop Assad’s “killing machine.”  The Council now has an opportunity to stand against the Assad regime’s relentless brutality and to demonstrate that it is a credible advocate for the universal rights that are written into the UN Charter. 
   
We must work with the Syrian people toward building a brighter future for Syria.  A Syria without Assad could be a Syria in which all Syrians are subject to the rule of law and where minorities are able to exercise their legitimate rights and uphold their identities and traditions while acting as fully enfranchised citizens in a unified republic.  The United States and our international partners support the Syrian people in achieving their aspirations and will continue to assist the Syrian people toward that goal.  We will help because we stand for principles that include universal rights for all people and just political and economic reform.  The suffering citizens of Syria must know: we are with you, and the Assad regime must come to an end.
Tags Barack Obama, syria
2 weeks 4 days ago - Syria

A crowd of Syrians stormed the Syrian embassy in Cairo smashing furniture and equipment and setting fire to parts of the building in protest over the latest bloodshed in the country, an embassy official and a witness have told Reuters on Saturday. 

Rallies have also broken out outside Syrian embassies in Britain, Germany and the United States in response to the ongoing violence in Homs.

Tags egypt, embassy, United Kingdom, United States
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