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Mail & Guardian
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Syria: Al-Qaeda wants to control Iraq and Turkey border zones

Al-Qaeda is fighting to drive rivals out of areas bordering Turkey and Iraq in a bid to control territory stretching from Iraq into northern Syria.

President Bashar al-Assad’s many young supporters include hackers paid by his cousin

Syria fights back with hack attacks

The Syrian regime’s electronic army is hitting critical Western news organisations with disinformation.

Time for Brics to stop sitting on the fence over Syria atrocities

Brics should call for the Syrian government to permit the delivery of humanitarian aid across its borders, including from Turkey, writes Jan Egeland.

International pressure on Syria is still needed.

South Africa can contribute to ending bloodshed in Syria

The recent unification of Syria’s opposition could curb human rights violations against civilians, but international pressure is still needed.

The United Nations has said that millions in Syria

Nobel laureate warns of ‘somalisation’ of Syria

Nobel Peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has warned Syria risks becoming a new Somalia as he voiced pessimism at any quick solution to the bloodshed.

Syrian protesters are enraged over the US’ black-listing of the Al-Nusra Front.

Fighting ruptures ragged Syrian ceasefire

Fighting has erupted in a Damascus suburb and around a Syrian army base as a truce marking a Muslim holiday crumbled almost before it had begun.

International pressure on Syria is still needed.

Peace envoy warns Syria conflict could set region ‘ablaze’

International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has warned the Syria conflict risks setting the region "ablaze" as clashes broke out across with Lebanon.

More than 305 people have been killed across Syria in the bloodiest single day of the 18-month revolt.

Syria’s bloodiest day claims over 305 lives

More than 305 people were killed across Syria on Wednesday, making it the bloodiest single day of the 18-month revolt, an NGO has revealed.

Turkey has floated the idea of a “safe zone” to be set up for civilians under foreign protection as fighting has intensified.

Syria refugee exodus raises pressure for buffer zone

Syria’s refugee exodus is growing and up to 200 000 people could settle in Turkey alone if the conflict worsens, adding pressure for a buffer zone.

Army helicopters had been rocketing and strafing crowded working class suburbs on the eastern outskirts of the city since Sunday.

Syrian helicopter comes down under fire in Damascus

State television has confirmed a helicopter crashed in Damascus but gave no details as Bashar al-Assad continues to bombard rebel-held districts.

Bashar al-Assad has made a rare public appearance for the end of Ramadan but activists say his forces are pressing on with a blitz of rebel areas.

Syria’s Assad makes rare appearance amid Eid protests

Bashar al-Assad has made a rare public appearance for the end of Ramadan but activists say his forces are pressing on with a blitz of rebel areas.

A rebel commander of the Free Syrian Army fires towards a pro-government sniper in the Salaheddin district of the northern city of Aleppo.
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Syrian regime on brink of collapse, says former PM

Syria’s former prime minister Riyad Hijab claims Bashar al-Assad’s regime is on the point of collapse, having lost control of most of the country.

Syrian rebels prepare to advance into the Salaheddin district in the northern city of Aleppo.

Syrian war could engulf neighbours

Fears are growing that foreign funding of Syria’s rebels could lead to conflict in Turkey, Lebanon and beyond.

A Syrian man shouts as residents gather at the scene of a bombed building purportedly hit during Syrian army shelling which was targeting the Free Syrian Army command centre.
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Syria’s Assad makes rare TV appearance

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has appeared on television for the first time in more than two weeks as his troops fight rebels in Aleppo.

Syrian rebels prepare to advance into the Salaheddin district in the northern city of Aleppo to fight against forces loyal to the government.
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Defection of stalwart PM deals blow to Syria’s regime

Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab is the latest to jump ship as defections continue to rattle Bashar al-Assad’s increasingly unstable regime.

The Free Syrian Army has set up a network of checkpoints in the neighbourhoods it controls
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Outgunned rebels struggle on in Syria’s Aleppo

Outnumbered and outgunned, anti-regime guerrillas are fighting to stave off an onslaught by Bashar al-Assad’s forces in Aleppo, Syria.

Free Syrian Army members destroy a banner with picture of Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad at a Syrian border crossing building.

UN chief sends envoy to assess situation in Syria

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he was sending an envoy to Syria to assess the situation as government forces and rebels battle for control.

Ambassador Alexandre Orlov says Assad has signalled readiness to step down when he accepted a recent international declaration.

Russia’s ambassador to Syria claims Assad ready to quit

The Russian ambassador to France says he believes Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad will leave power – but only in an orderly fashion.

The Free Syrian Army has claimed responsibility for the blasts in Damascus that has struck at the heart of Syria’s security apparatus.

Suicide bomber strikes Syria’s security heads

A suicide bomber has struck at the heart of Syria’s security apparatus, killing the defence minister and President Bashar al-Assad’s brother-in-law.

Bassma Kodmani and George Netto from the Syrian National Council say they have met ambassadors to press them to back sanctions.
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Syrian rebels threaten more violence should sanction bid fail

The Syrian opposition has vowed to confront Bashar al-Assad directly if the UN fails to vote in favour of imposing sanctions upon his regime.