Civil War In Syria -- News Updates February 27, 2012

UN Says Syria Constitutional Referendum Meaningless While Violence Continues -- National Post/AFP

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations doubts the credibility of the constitutional referendum held in Syria amid “pervasive violence,” a UN spokesman said Monday.

Any vote in Syria must be held “in conditions free of violence and intimidation,” UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey told reporters, adding that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had just “noted” Sunday’s vote organized by President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

Syria said on Monday that almost 90% of voters approved a new constitution in the referendum held after 11 months of anti-government protests.

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More News On Syria's Civil War

Syria: Overview -- Yahoo News
Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Syria: Qatar and splinter group back arming resistance - live updates -- The Guardian

As Bashar al-Assad secures 90pc in referendum, Syria death toll passes 8,000 -- The Telegraph
'Sham' Syrian constitution vote wins 89.4 per cent approval -- The Telegraph
Syria says new constitution approved; EU imposes sanctions -- CNN
Syria Says Voters Back New Constitution, Fresh Violence Kills 10 -- Voice of America
Syria approves new constitution amid bloodshed -- Yahoo News/Reuters
89.4 percent back Syrian constitution -- UPI
Syria says voters approve constitution -- UPI
Syrians Said to Approve New Charter as Battles Continue -- New York Times
Mrs Assad of Acton returns to public eye in a mockery of democracy as 45 people are killed in another day of Syrian bloodshed -- Daily Mail

Red Cross delivers aid to battered Syrian city -- CBS/AP
Syrian activists say 62 bodies recovered near Homs -- Jerusalem Post/Reuters
Syrian regime rockets bombard Homs -- The Guardian
Syria army shells Homs and northern towns in Idlib -- BBC
Rift Develops in Syrian Opposition Group -- New York Times/Reuters
Dozens of Syrian soldiers 'defect to Iraqi Kurdistan' - -AFP

EU agrees further Syria sanctions -- The Telegraph
EU hits Syria with more sanctions, but little else -- Yahoo News/Reuters

Desertions to lead to Syria regime fall: Clinton -- AFP
Clinton: Too many concerns over arming Syrians -- CBS
Qatar backs arming Syrian rebels -- Financial Times
Syria warns West: Arming opposition is 'big mistake' -- Haaretz
Syria's once urbane Assad shows ruthless streak -- Reuters
West is meddling in Syria's affairs, government spokesman says -- Christian Science Monitor/AP
Putin warns West over Syria, Iran -- Yahoo News/AP
Poland tries to get wounded reporters out of Syria -- AP
Iraq says will not back Syrian regime "at any cost" -- AFP
AP Interview: Hamas Out of Syria, Leader Says -- New York Times/AP

Inside northern Syria - in pictures -- The Guardian
Syria: A picture tells a thousand words -- Gulf News

Syrian Conflict Poses the Risk of Wider Strife -- Steven Erlanger, New York Times
Arm Syria's Rebels -- Roger Cohen, New York Times
Bait-and-switch in Syria? -- Stephen M. Walt, Foreign Policy
'Friends of Syria' Conference: What Did It Accomplish? -- Rania Abouzeid, Time