Russia says 'naive' to expect Assad to halt fire first
Russia said Saturday it would be "naive" for outside powers to expect Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to withdraw his troops first from major cities and then wait for the opposition to follow suit.
Turkey demands Syria safe havens as UN meets
War-torn Syria's frustrated neighbor Turkey demanded on Thursday that world powers set up refugee camps within the country to stem the massive outflow of refugees fleeing the fighting.
Deadly bombing hits loyalist funeral outside Damascus
A car bomb rocked the funeral of two government loyalists in a Damascus suburb killing 27 people on Tuesday as the army kept up its bombardment of rebel strongholds in the east of the capital.
Syria foreign minister accuses US of stoking violence
Syria's foreign minister accused the United States of being the "major player" encouraging anti-government rebels, but vowed the regime would not deploy chemical weapons in an interview published Tuesday.
17 beheaded in bloody day across Afghanistan
Seventeen civilians were beheaded, 10 Afghan soldiers killed and two NATO troops shot dead in a new insider attack in a bloody few hours across Afghanistan.
Assad slams anti-Syria 'conspiracy' after massacre claims
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday the foreign "conspiracy" against his country would be defeated, as his forces were accused of a bloody rampage in a town near Damascus that left hundreds dead.
Nigeria in back-channel talks with Islamists: official
Nigeria's government has reached out to members of Islamist militant group Boko Haram through back-channel talks in a bid to end an insurgency that has killed hundreds, the president's spokesman said Sunday.
New UN envoy 'scared' by Syria conflict task
New UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said Friday that he was "scared" at the size of the task of ending the Syria conflict.
France says air exclusion zone in Syria possible
France indicated Thursday that it would consider supporting a partial no-fly zone over Syria, turning the screws on President Bashar al-Assad's regime as fighting rages in Damascus and second city Aleppo.
Heritage catastrophe looms as war engulfs Old Aleppo
As the battle for Aleppo closes in on the historical centre in northern Syria, heritage sites in one of the world's oldest cities are being damaged and experts fear the worst is yet to come.
Quebec student protesters eye elections
Thousands of protesters marched against planned tuition hikes in Montreal, opposing the Liberal government of Premier Jean Charest, two weeks before parliamentary elections.
Aleppo commander's struggle for 'clean rebellion'
With the thud of heavy machine guns, the whipping sound of sniper rounds and the smell of cordite filling the midnight darkness, the rebels almost didn't notice her veiled figure turning the corner.
Bloody start to Eid in Syria: watchdog
The Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday got off to a bloody start in Syria, with at least 84 people dying across the country, most of them soldiers, and Damascus rocked by clashes.
Five killed in Pakistan suicide bombing: official
A suicide bomber blew up his explosive-laden car at a check post in southwestern Pakistan overnight killing five people including three soldiers, an official said Saturday.
Syria pounds rebel bastions as UN names new envoy
Syrian forces launched new air strikes and shelled rebel strongholds in several key cities on Saturday, a watchdog said, after the UN named a new envoy to try to end the conflict.
Myanmar opens new probe into deadly sectarian unrest
Myanmar has set up a new commission to probe sectarian clashes that saw scores killed and displaced tens of thousands.
Syria rebels claim jet downing as army advances
Syrian rebels claimed they downed a fighter jet Monday in what would be a major coup for the opposition, but the regime seized the upper hand in Aleppo as it advanced into a new rebel-held district.
Syria rebels warn they will turn to Qaeda if West fails them
With the West still refusing to arm Syria's opposition in the bloody fight against the regime, rebels in the flashpoint northern city of Aleppo warn that they could turn to Al-Qaeda for help.
Bombs, attacks kill more than 50 in Iraq ahead of Eid
A spate of bombings and gun attacks that killed at least 53 people in Iraq overshadowed preparations Friday to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, amid warnings that insurgents could strike again.
UN ends Syria mission as Aleppo attack renewed
The UN has called an end to its observer mission in Syria, as activists reported more bloodletting in an attack on civilians in the main battleground of Aleppo.