Violence In Syria

Syria peace talks set for 22 January in Geneva: United Nations

An international peace conference aimed at ending Syria's civil war will be held on January 22, the first face-to-face talks between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and rebels seeking to overthrow him, the United Nations said on Monday.

Vladimir Putin gets nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize by a Russian advocacy group for his key role in preventing a US missile strike on Syria and initiatives to dismantle Damascus' chemical weapons.

First batch of refugees from Syria to leave for Germany: UN

After registering more than two million refugees from Syria in neighbouring countries, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that the first group of over 100 refugees will leave Lebanon to be relocated in Germany on Wednesday.

Won't attack Syria if Assad surrenders chemical weapons in a week: Kerry

John Kerry said Monday that Syrian President Bashar Assad could resolve the crisis surrounding his purported use of chemical weapons by turning "every single bit" of his arsenal over to the international community by the end of the week.

Syria: al-Qaeda rebels take control of Christian village

Syrian activists say rebels including al-Qaeda-linked fighters have gained control of the Christian village of Maaloula northeast of the capital Damascus.

Is US planning to train Syria rebels for war?

The Obama administration is considering a plan to use US military trainers to help increase the capabilities of the Syrian rebels, in a move that would greatly expand the current CIA training being done quietly in Jordan, US officials said.

Syria violence: US to bypass UN fearing Russia's opposition

Expressing disappointment over the Russian decision to veto any move towards armed intervention in Syria, the United States has said that there is "no point" in going forward in the UN Security Council. "We see no avenue forward given continued Russian opposition to any meaningful council action on Syria.

War is the only way to crush terrorism: Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said crushing "terrorists" must come before any political solution to end the crisis in his country, dimming hopes of an international peace conference any time soon.

Syrian violence: Volleyball coach killed near Damascus

Syrian state media say a volleyball coach who was a former national team player has been killed in an ambush near Damascus.

Syrian opposition rubbishes Russia's chemical weapon allegations

The opposition Syrian National Coalition on Wednesday denied a Russian charge that rebel fighters fired a projectile laden with the nerve agent sarin at a suburb of Aleppo in March, saying U.N. inspectors should be allowed to investigate the attack.