Persian Realm

Amanpour: Candidates wrong on Syria?

UN Human Rights commission warns of jihadists in Syria

A UN commission on human rights abuses in Syria warns of the increasing risk of foreign Islamist militants radicalising an already volatile conflict.

UN Envoy appeals to Iran over Syria

Envoy appeals to Iran over Syria (bbc)

Russia 'morally bankrupt' on Syria

Russia 'morally bankrupt' on Syria (bbc, video)

The US government has accused Russia of pursuing a "morally bankrupt" policy in Syria.

It comes after Turkey intercepted a Syria-bound plane which was reportedly carrying Russian radar equipment.

US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland accepted the aircraft was carrying parts legally, but said the policy was "still morally bankrupt". 

John McCain calls for greater intervention

US Senator John McCain has said the US should intervene in Syria to help create safe zones and get arms and support to anti-Assad rebels.

On Wednesday, the US confirmed it had sent extra troops to Jordan, one of Syria's neighbours, in case the crisis spills over the border.

But Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has criticised President Obama for taking too passive a stance on the Middle East.

UN condemns Syria's Turkey attack

UN condemns Syria's Turkey attack (bbc)

The UN condemns a Syrian mortar attack on a Turkish border town, after hours of talks to persuade Russia to agree to the wording.

Turkey Parliament approves action in Syria

Turkey approves action in Syria (bbc)

Turkey's parliament has authorised troops to cross into Syria, if required by the government.

The decision followed an emergency session in response to a government request for the military action, after two women and three children were killed in a border town by Syrian shelling.

The vote was passed 320-129.

Turkey has been firing at targets inside Syria, in retaliation for the deaths on Wednesday. 

Kofi Annan: Syria crisis 'could explode' and spread

Syria crisis 'could explode' and spread (bbc, Video)

Kofi Annan has told the BBC that the conflict in Syria could "inflame the whole region", and said that if the UN security council did not work together, the situation would get much worse.

The former UN secretary general recently resigned his role as the UN and Arab League's special envoy to Syria, in frustration at the lack of progress in finding a solution to the crisis. 

Turkey and Germany's FM's slam U.N over Syria response

Diplomat slams U.N over Syria response (cnn)

• World has done "literally nothing" to stop carnage, says Turkish official
• U.N. extends mandate of Commission of Inquiry
• Chemical weapons moved for security reasons, U.S. defense secretary says
• Clinton announces $45 million in aid to the opposition

CNN) -- Diplomats attending the U.N. General Assembly used the spotlight and worked the sidelines in an attempt to make headway toward resolving the Syrian crisis as a graphic video emerged Friday that underscored the consequences of failure to do so.

"What has the international community done to stop this carnage?" asked Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu. "Literally nothing. We have yet to see a single effective action to save innocent lives."

The inability of the Security Council to act, he said, "encourages the Syrian nation to kill even more people."

Turkey is providing shelter for 90,000 Syrian refugees, but the rest of the world needs to do its share, Davutoglu said. "Our inability to act becomes a tool in the hands of despots and destructive regimes to demolish the cities, towns and villages, massacre civilians and make a mockery of the civilized world and the United Nations."

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also slammed the U.N. Security Council for failing to end the violence.

World leaders working for robust action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime have hit a brick wall at the Security Council after Russia and China blocked tough resolutions. 

'Friends of Syria' meet in New York

'Friends of Syria' meet in New York (cnn, video)

World powers push Syria's opposition to unite. CNN's Richard Roth wraps up Friday's news from the U.N. General Assembly. 

UN's war of words fails to help Syria

UN's war of words fails to help Syria (bbc, Video)

As fighting intensifies in Syria's second city, Aleppo, divisions at the UN on how to halt the conflict appear to be as wide as ever.

The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) said on Thursday that a "decisive" battle had begun in the city.

The United States has promised to provide extra aid to the opponents of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

But Russia has accused countries that back opposition groups in Syria of pushing the country "deeper into the abyss."

James Kelly reports. 

Clinton: UN 'paralysed' on Syria

Clinton: UN 'paralysed' on Syria (bbc)

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UK PM David Cameron call on the UN Security Council to renew efforts to tackle the crisis in Syria

UK's Hague to Amanpour: 'Still no Plan B on Syria'

UK's Hague: 'Still no Plan B on Syria' (cnn)

At this year's U.N. General Assembly, Syria's civil war is top of the agenda.

There has already been a lot of talk about the violence and the climbing death toll, but even the leaders making those speeches are skeptical that any real action will come of it.

Even British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has played an active role in trying to find a solution, tells CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that he doesn’t see one on the horizon. 

David Cameron urges UN efforts on Syria

Prime Minister David Cameron urges world leaders to do more to stop the "atrocities" of president Bashar Assad's regime in Syria, in a keynote speech to the United Nations.

Hollande and Obama condemn Syria’s Assad at UN

Qatari PM proposes 'Plan B' for Syria

Qatari PM proposes 'Plan B' for Syria (cnn)

Qatar's prime minister has proposed a "Plan B" for solving the Syrian crisis, saying a non-violent solution is still possible despite more than a year of relentless bloodshed.

• Al Thani says the plan would include havens and a no-fly zone
• The prime minister says he believes Arab and European countries would participate
• He says he hopes the United States will take stronger action after its elections
• Al Thani says Qatar is not arming rebels, but is providing humanitarian aid to Syrians

Syria and Iran to overshadow UN General Assembly

World leaders gather in New York for the annual UN General Assembly meetings, likely to be dominated by the Syrian conflict and Iran's nuclear programme.

Syria: Nations discuss tougher sanctions

Syria: Nations discuss tougher sanctions (cnn)

UN Envoy's warning : Syria Crisis " A Threat to the World"

Peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warns the Syrian crisis presents a "threat to the world" after holding his first meeting with President Bashar al-Assad.

Syria envoy meets President Assad

New Syrian peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has held his first talks with President Bashar al-Assad, state television says.

The report gave no details of the talks in Damascus, where Mr Brahimi arrived on Thursday.

The UN-Arab League mediator is on his first trip to Syria, where thousands have been killed since the conflict began in March last year.

Angelina Jolie visits Syrian refugees

Angelina Jolie visits Syrian refugees (cnn)

(CNN) -- With the Syrian refugee crisis reaching epic proportions, actress and U.N. Special Envoy Angelina Jolie visited displaced residents Tuesday at a tent camp in Jordan.

The trip draws attention to the plight of more than 253,000 Syrians who have fled their country during 18 months of relentless bloodshed. More than 85,000 refugees have escaped to Jordan, and many more have fled to neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq.

Jolie said she was appalled by "the amount of innocent children I've met here who are wounded and unaccompanied, with their parents being killed, and now they're on their own."

• NEW: At least 15 people killed or injured at a bakery, opposition says; 25 others killed elsewhere
• Jolie describes wounded children who are orphaned from the civil war
• More than 253,000 Syrian refugees have fled their country, a U.N. spokesman says
• Jordan's foreign minister says the country has "reached its limit in absorbing" refugees

First Syria mission for Brahimi

UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi begins his first mission to Syria with a visit to Cairo where he acknowledges the challenges he will face.

Syria resolution 'needs teeth'

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says a Russian plan for a UN Security Council resolution on Syria will be pointless without consequences.

Christians 'targeted' by rebels

Christians 'targeted' by rebels (bbc, Audio)

The Christian community is one of the oldest in Syria but increasingly one that feels threatened.

Thousands are said to have left Homs after the rebels took over.

Speaking to Today's reporter Zubeida Malik, Reverend Nadim Nassar, a Syrian anglican priest, says he is worried "the influence from outside Syria" will affect the good relationship between Christians and Muslims.

Georgette, a Syrian Christian in Damscus, said her cousin's home was broken into in Homs and she and her husband were threatened and asked to leave within 24 hours, or risk being killed. 

Syrian and Iraqi Migrants drown off Turkish coast

A boat carrying migrants capsizes close to the Turkish port of Izmir, with the loss of 39 lives, reports say.

Turkey PM says lack of U.S. action in Syria tied to elections

Turkey PM says lack of U.S. action in Syria tied to elections (cnn, video)

• CNN's Christiane Amanpour interviews the Turkish prime minister in Istanbul
• Erdogan talks about the crisis in Syria, Iran's suspected nuclear program
• American "elections ... might be the root cause of the lacking of initiative," he says

Horrors documented

CNN's Arwa Damon reports on the haunting images captured by an activist documenting Syria's civil war

Horrors documented (cnn,video) 

New UN envoy Brahimi says Syria mission 'nearly impossible'

New UN envoy gloomy at Syria task (bbc)

Lyse Doucet

Chief International Correspondent, BBC News

Lakhdar Brahimi has embarked on one of the world's toughest jobs.

But as one of the UN's most experienced troubleshooters, he may offer the skills needed in a conflict where both sides seem to believe they have no choice but to fight to the end.

Mr Brahimi often deployed a "no victor, no vanquished" power-sharing approach in previous mediations, including the 1989 agreement that ended Lebanon's 15-year civil war.

UN sources who have worked closely with Mr Brahimi over many years say he will be more involved in the minutiae of the process, engaging personally with all the key players, and drawing on his own extensive experience and contacts in the region and beyond, not to mention his understanding of Arab politics and language.

He plans to base his office in Damascus if possible, or in Cairo, and to spend as much time as possible in the region.

U.S. readying for post-regime Syria

U.S. readying for post-regime Syria (cnn)

As more areas in Syria slip from control of the Syrian military, the United States is training local opposition members how to run a local government free from the grip of the Assad regime.

The State Department says it is running "training programs" for the members of opposition local coordinating councils in "liberated" areas who are beginning to re-establish civilian authority. The programs help them on issues of civil administration, human-rights training and other services.

Syrian refugees rise to 200,000

The United Nations refugee agency says that more than 200,000 Syrian refugees have fled to neighbouring countries as the conflict has intensified.