Persian Realm

Syria: Massive Hama explosion 'kills 70'

Massive Hama explosion 'kills 70' (bbc)

At least 70 people are killed in an attack on a house in Hama, Syrian activists say, but the government says 16 died in a blast at an arms factory.

Syria troops 'shell city of Hama'

Syria troops 'shell city of Hama' (bbc)

Shells fired by Syrian security forces have killed 20 people in the city of Hama, activists say, as the EU imposes a new round of sanctions. 

How Syrians snipers operate: an Observer explains

How Syrians snipers operate: an Observer explains (france 24)

According to the UN, more than 9,000 people have been killed in the unrest. Syrian human rights activist, meanwhile, have counted 11,000, most of which they say are civilians. 

Syrian regime set on 'repression', France says

Syrian military 'pounding Homs'

Syrian military 'pounding Homs' (bbc)

Syrian security forces are reportedly shelling rebel-held areas of Homs, as the UN's secretary general prepares to ask for a larger observer mission.

Syria peace stymied by 'outside forces,' Russia says

Russia disdains Friends of Syria effort (cnn, VIDEO)

• NEW: Ambassador Susan Rice says cease-fire is not holding, defends U.S. position
• NEW: At least 70 people were found dead in Syria on Tuesday, an opposition group says
• A sanctions group deplores sales of arms to Syria

Let them sort it out btwn themselves

If not, you'll have another Yougoslavia. 

Syria troops bombard Homs and other rebel areas

Syrian forces are attacking opposition-held areas in the north and south and continuing to bombard Homs, despite a supposed ceasefire, activists say.

On the ground with Syrian rebels

On the ground with Syrian rebels (BBC, VIDEO)

UN investigators say they have had reports of shelling and arrests by Syrian forces, along with executions of some soldiers captured by rebel forces.

The level of violence across the country is believed to have dropped since an internationally-brokered ceasefire began last Thursday, but thousands of civilians are said to have fled in the run-up to the truce.

Despite restrictions on journalists entering the country, the BBC's Ian Pannell managed to get into Idlib province in the north of the country. 

 DK: thank you for the

 DK: thank you for the updates. Not a peep from Basiji thugs and their supporters on IC.

A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Conroy: The battle to find the truth on Syria

Conroy: The battle to find the truth on Syria (BBC, VIDEO)

The war photographer Paul Conroy who was severely injured in Syria has said he believes that most of the footage shot by citizen journalists and activists is genuine but has warned that it is often not possible to verify them.

He told HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur the need would continue for professional journalists and photographers to go into conflict zones to witness events first hand. Mr Conroy suffered serious leg injuries in an attack on Homs in February in a shelling which left two other journalists dead. 

Syrian forces pummel Homs from the sky

Syrian forces pummel Homs from the sky (cnn)

Government helicopters are pounding the besieged city of Homs from the sky, opposition activists say, three days after a so-called cease-fire in Syria. At least nine people died across Syria Sunday.  

Shelling targets Homs civilians, says activist

Activist: 'Army is killing us' (bbc, VIDEO)

Fresh clashes have erupted in Syria as a vanguard of UN monitors prepares to arrive to oversee the shaky ceasefire.

Syrian state media claim that attacks by "terrorists groups" have intensified since Thursday's truce.

Sami Ibrahim, who is an activist in Homs, said his footage showed that the regime was targeting civilian buildings, and that a well-known market had been destroyed.

These pictures have not been independently verified 

Solmaz Sharif on CNN: "Why Iranians, Syrians share bond"

Why Iranians, Syrians share bond (cnn)

Editor's note: Solmaz Sharif is Iran Affairs coordinator atcyberdissidents.org. For more than 12 years, she has worked as a journalist for Persian media outlets such as BBC Persian and the Etemad Melli Newspaper. She is also founder of the first Iranian women's sports magazine, Shirzanan.

(CNN) -- Two months ago, Emad Ghavidel turned on the television in Tehran and saw graphic footage of an injured Syrian child crying out in pain.

The 24-year-old Iranian rapper was horrified by the violence and the government's brutal crackdown on Homs. The more Ghavidel learned about it, the angrier he became.

• Many Iranians sympathize with the Syrian people and the violence they are dealing with
• The roles were reversed in 2009 when Iran was in turmoil after a disputed election
• Meanwhile, the governments of Iran, Syria are also very supportive of each other

 (cnn)

'Shots fired' at Syria protesters

'Shots fired' at Syria protesters (bbc)

Several people have been shot dead during protests in Syria, activists say, as the UN considers deploying monitors to oversee a peace plan.

Reported Continued Violence threatens Syria's truce

A fragile ceasefire is in place in Syria after 13 months of fighting, but both sides report a growing number of violations.

Syria violence drops after truce

Syria violence drops after truce (bbc)

A fragile ceasefire is in place in Syria after 13 months of fighting, but activists say the government is not fully complying.

Syria ceasefire comes into effect

Syria ceasefire comes into effect (bbc)

A ceasefire comes into force in Syria to stem the 13-month-old conflict, but Western countries publicly doubt the government's intentions.

Syria 'to end military operation'

Syria 'to end military operation' (bbc)

Syria will end military operations on Thursday, state TV says, the day a UN-brokered ceasefire is scheduled to take hold.

Syria 'assures' Annan on UN ceasefire plan

UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan says he has "received assurances" from Syria that it will respect a ceasefire deadline set for Thursday.

Turkish FM cuts short China visit over Syrian border

Turkish foreign minister cuts short China visit over Syrian border fire (France 24)

Russia urges Syria to step up Annan peace plan

Syria 'failing to abide by truce' say's US

Syria 'failing to abide by truce' (bbc)

There is no sign of Syria abiding by a peace plan to bring fighting to an end hours before a UN deadline, the US says, as violence intensifies.

Jim Muir: 'Syria unrest spills over borders'

Turkey has protested about Syrian forces firing across the border at people fleeing the violence, the first such attack since Turkey began taking in refugees fleeing the unrest.

In another incident, a Lebanese cameraman was killed on the Lebanese-Syrian border as the disorder threatens to spill into neighbouring countries.

HRW Report: More than 100 executed by Syrian authorities

Report details 100 executions (cnn)

Syrian security forces have summarily executed at least 101 people, including civilians, since late 2011 in attacks on cities and towns, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday.

The report "documents the involvement of Syrian forces and pro-government shabeeha militias in summary and extrajudicial executions of defecting soldiers, opposition fighters and opposition supporters, as well as civilians who appeared to have had no part in the confrontation with the authorities other than being residents of opposition strongholds," according to the human rights organization.

The 25-page report, "In Cold Blood: Summary Executions by Syrian Security Forces and Pro-Goverment Militias," was based on more than 30 interviews with witnesses to the executions, Human Rights Watch said. 

• The Human Rights Watch report is based on interviews with eyewitnesses
• Many of those killed are women and children, the group says
• The deaths are "a desperate attempt to crush the uprising," researcher says

Turkey protests as Syrians open fire at border

Syrian border fire angers Turkey (bbc)

Turkey reacts angrily after Syrian fire across its border causes casualties, as a UN-brokered ceasefire plan looks increasingly in doubt.

Rebels reject new Syria demand

A last-minute demand by the Syrian government is rejected by the opposition, throwing a ceasefire planned to take effect from Tuesday into disarray.

Rebels reject new Syria demand (bbc)

Fears grow for peace deal in Syria after new demands

Fears grow for Syrian peace deal (bbc)

Doubts grow about the planned ceasefire in Syria after the government makes a new demand and rebels say they believe the deal is doomed to fail.

Syrian Kurds want Bashar Assad to stay

It is worthy of note that the inactivity of the Kurds became one of the discoveries of the so-called Syrian revolution. This became a surprise indeed, because everyone thought that the Kurds would struggle against the Syrian regime violently.

Syrian Regime wants 'written guarantees' from opposition

Syria wants opposition guarantees (bbc)

Syria wants "written guarantees" from the opposition before withdrawing troops from flashpoints parts of the country, the foreign ministry says.