Syria to dominate G8 talks as rebels ask US for weapons
US Secretary of State John Kerry and other G8 foreign ministers were on Thursday to hold a second day of talks in London focused on Syria after rebels again appealed for weapons.
Syria's Al-Nusra pledges allegiance to Al-Qaeda
The head of Syria's jihadist Al-Nusra Front has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, but distanced his group from claims it has merged with Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Assad warns of instability, Obama to host Syria talks
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned that the fall of his regime would destabilise the region "for many years", as US President Barack Obama announced talks with Middle East allies over the crisis.
UN adopts global treaty on weapons trade
The UN General Assembly on Tuesday passed the first treaty regulating the conventional arms trade in an attempt to bring transparency and protection of human rights to the often murky industry.
UN General Assembly set to adopt arms treaty
The UN General Assembly is expected to adopt the first global treaty on the conventional arms trade Tuesday after the 193 member states failed to reach consensus on it last week.
Pope prays for peace in Syria, Korea on first Easter
Pope Francis prayed for a "political solution" in Syria and for "reconciliation" on the Korean peninsula in his first Easter Sunday message in front of a crowd in St Peter's Square.
Iran, N. Korea, Syria block arms trade treaty
Iran, North Korea and Syria on Thursday held up agreement on the first global treaty on the $80 billion a year conventional arms trade.
Applause as opposition takes Syria seat at Arab summit
Opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib took Syria's seat at the Arab League on Tuesday as leaders gathered for the annual summit in Doha gave member states the "right" to arm rebels in the war-torn country.
UN chief says chemical weapon use would be 'outrageous'
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "remains convinced that the use of chemical weapons by any party (in Syria) under any circumstances would constitute an outrageous crime".
Ban says Syria nearing 'complete destruction'
International governments must act quickly to stop Syria's "complete destruction," UN leader Ban Ki-Moon warned Monday as the conflict entered a third year.
Syrian opposition meets to choose rebel PM
Syria's opposition coalition meets in Istanbul on Monday to select their first rebel prime minister, tasked with running daily life in large swathes of territory freed from regime control but mired in chaos and poverty.
France and Britain willing to arm Syrian rebels
France has joined Britain in voicing its willingness to supply weapons to Syria's rebels if it cannot convince its European partners to lift an arms embargo as the conflict enters its third year.
Vote delay could destabilise Lebanon
A divisive debate over Lebanon's electoral law may delay parliamentary elections scheduled for June 9, stoking fears of instability in a country already rattled by the conflict in neighbouring Syria.
Ten years on, Iraq haunts US response to Syria, Iran
Ten years after the US-led invasion of Iraq, the searing memory of what became a deeply unpopular war has made Washington policy makers reluctant to use even limited force in Syria or Iran.
Britain could sidestep EU ban on arming Syria rebels: PM
Britain would consider ignoring a European Union arms ban and supplying weapons to Syrian rebels if it would help topple President Bashar al-Assad.
Shortages of food, fuel, power as Syria battered by war
"Yesterday I did not make anything to eat as there was no electricity for the entire day," says Umm Fadi, a resident of Artuz district near Damascus that has been caught up in the fighting between rebels and regime forces.
Syria rebels seize UN peacekeepers, take key city
Negotiations were under way with Syrian rebels who seized 21 UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights ceasefire zone between Syria and Israel, as rebels took total control of the key northern city of Raqa.
Kerry on Gulf tour pledges backing for Syria rebels
US Secretary of State John Kerry has promised to "empower" Syria's opposition, while warning arch-foe Iran that time for talks on Tehran's nuclear ambitions could run out.
Syria, Moscow condemn US aid to rebels
Syria and ally Russia denounced a US pledge to provide direct non-lethal aid to rebel fighters, saying it will fuel more violence in the two-year conflict.
US pledges first direct aid to Syria rebel fighters
The United States has announced it will provide direct aid to Syrian rebels, but not the arms they had hoped for, as well as $60 million in extra assistance to the political opposition.