(Reuters) – The United States and Russia resumed negotiations on Saturday on eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons programme amid signs of an imminent announcement. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were huddled with their aides at a poolside cafe at the Geneva hotel where their teams of disarmament negotiators have been meeting […]
Syrian weapons destruction may not take so long – U.S. expert
(Reuters) – One of the creators of the program that has helped Russia dismantle its weapons of mass destruction says the mechanics of destroying Syria’s chemical weapons may be easier and quicker than some officials and experts think. Former U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, who helped establish a post-Cold War program to secure and decommission Soviet-era stockpiles of […]
West could hit Syria in days, envoys tell rebels
(Reuters) – Western powers could attack Syria within days, envoys from the United States and its allies told rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, sources who attended the meeting told Reuters on Tuesday. U.S. forces in the region are “ready to go”, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said, as Washington and its European and Middle Eastern partners honed plans […]
Arab League blames Syria’s Assad for chemical attack
(Reuters) – The Arab League said on Tuesday it holds Syrian President Bashar al-Assad responsible for a chemical attack near Damascus, as speculation mounted that the United States was preparing a military strike. Diplomatic sources said the statement, issued after a meeting of Arab League delegates in Cairo, was pushed through with strong backing fromSaudi Arabia and […]
U.N. inspectors delay visit to suspected chemical weapons site
(Reuters) – United Nations inspectors investigating suspected chemical weapons attacks in Syria have postponed their next site visit until Wednesday, a U.N. statement said on Tuesday. “Following yesterday’s attack on the U.N. convoy, a comprehensive assessment determined that the visit should be postponed by one day in order to improve preparedness and safety for the team. Considering the complexities […]
Why small producer Syria matters to oil markets ?
(Reuters) – Oil prices rose to a six-month high on Tuesday as Western powers readied a military strike against Syria, and traders and analysts cited concerns over stability in the Middle East. Below are facts about Syria’s energy sector and why developments there matter to global oil markets. SYRIA’S OIL AND GAS SECTOR * Syria has not exported […]