Forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are seen in Arjoun village near Qusair town May 30, 2013. REUTERS- Rami Bleible
Assad Forces Advance; West, Russia Exchange Barbs Ahead Of Talks -- Reuters
(Reuters) - Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad tightened their siege of rebels in a strategic town on Friday, in a counter-offensive that is shifting the balance of the Syrian war ahead of a peace conference next month.
Rebels said they had managed to infiltrate new fighters into the town of Qusair on the Lebanese frontier, where they are encircled by Assad's army and his allies in Lebanon's Hezbollah militia who have openly joined the war on his behalf.
The battle comes amid a blizzard of diplomacy ahead of the conference called by the United States and Russia, the first time in a year that the global powers ranged on opposing sides in Syria's civil war have agreed to talk about a way to end it.
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MIDDLE EAST
Assad warns Israel as
'rebels flood Qusayr'.
France says 3,000-4,000 Hezbollah
are fighting in Syria.
Russia unlikely to send S-300 missiles to Syria
before autumn: Interfax.
UN blacklists Syria's
al-Nusra Front.
Turkey arrests
anti-government protesters.
Iran petrochemical industry targeted
for U.S. sanctions.
Iran's presidential candidates debate justice
and a 'resistance economy'.
Iran candidate Jalili says women’s rights
are as mothers.
U.S. to loosen sanctions on Iran
for mobile phones, gadgets.
Palestinians warn that Israeli settlement plans
could scupper peace talks efforts.
ASIA
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi
speaks out.
NATO to hold 2014 summit on
Afghanistan troop withdrawal.
Foreign fighters flow into southern Afghanistan
to battle US, allied forces.
Myanmar, Kachin reach
tentative ceasefire.
Bhutan readies for
first stage of key elections.
India and China
tackle border dispute.
India's economic growth at
slowest rate in a decade.
Kyrgyzstan imposes state of emergency
to protect Centerra mine.
China's Tiananmen Mothers criticize Xi
for lack of reforms.
AFRICA
Guards at Libyan oil field protest
, force shutdown.
Libya not ready to try
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi - ICC.
Sudanese rebels say shoot down
army helicopter in oil area.
Libya steps up fight
against militias. Insight: Libya becomes 'the new Mali' as
Islamists shift in Sahara.
Militants threaten
'all West Africa'.
Malians in Gao protest
against French 'bias'.
Darfur tribes' battle for gum arabic trade
leads to 64 deaths.
Nigeria arrests trio over
'Hezbollah cell'.
Egyptian draft law said to dash hopes
of free civil society.
After war, Ivory Coast struggles
with reconciliation process.
Graphic photos of Oscar Pistorius
crime scene leaked.
EUROPE
Italy announces first case
of SARS-like coronavirus.
Eurozone unemployment hits
another record high. Eurozone unemployment hits record high
of 19.4m in April.
Frankfurt 'Blockupy' protesters
surround ECB.
Putin economy reshuffle to
strengthen Kremlin: sources.
No quick return of a brilliant Russian economist expected,
as politics weigh.
Census reveals German population
lower than thought.
British taxpayers to pay 'millions' towards
secretive Bilderberg meeting.
AMERICAS
Colombia's Santos calls
Venezuela plot accusations "crazy".
Russian oil company
suspends exploration in Cuba.
IRS may have targeted conservatives
more broadly.
Boston bombing suspect is walking,
mother says.
Eric Holder's offer of talks on
spying scandal divides US media.
Brazil faces 1970s stagflation
as resource boom wilts.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
'will not resign'.
Relatives seek answers over
mass kidnapping in Mexico.
After tour abroad, dissident blogger Sanchez
returns to Cuba.
Cuba says inclusion on
U.S. terrorist list 'shameful'.
Update: SOUTHCOM ISR helped
kill 32 'narco-terrorists'.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Intel dilemma in
Boston, London, Paris attacks.
Tehran says U.S., not Iran,
sponsors terrorism.
Al Qaeda remains a threat to U.S. via its franchises
despite Obama’s boast.
Iran's sponsorship of terrorism sees
"marked resurgence" : U.S..
State: Hezbollah sees 'resurgence'
on world stage.
Guantánamo Bay hunger
strike worsens.
Corpus Christi man gets 25 years in plot to use drug cartel
to kill Saudi ambassador.
Latest issue of al Qaeda magazine Inspire
celebrates Boston bombings.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Roiled by mystery GMO wheat, US
races to reassure buyers.
Plan by Google’s Motorola to open Tex. factory signals shift
as tech firms look to add U.S. jobs.
Ex-Microsoft manager plans to create
first U.S. marijuana brand.
Megaupload wins access to data
seized in police raid.
