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Syria crisis - live updates Syria crisis - live updates
(40 minutes later)
11.40am: All but one of Syria's disparate opposition groups have agreed to unite behind the Syrian National Council, the BBC reports.
A statement issued after a two-day meeting in Istanbul said the SNC would be the "formal interlocutor and formal representative of the Syrian people".
SNC spokeswoman Basma Kodmani told the BBC: "We needed to build the confidence of countries around the world who want to support the Syrian revolution that this is the organisation that can channel support to the population inside.
"I think this now has been achieved."
But the Beirut-based news site al-Akhbar claims the SNC remains fractured after Kurdish delegates stormed out of the meeting.
It says:
While an accord was reached on Tuesday, the absence of influential figure Haitham al-Maleh and Kurdish delegates overshadowed the talks.
Shortly afterwards, however, al-Maleh, a venerable opposition figure who was jailed by both Assad and his father, walked out after SNC leader Burhan Ghalioun made a pitch for greater unity.
"I want to see the council act democratically. Until now, they are acting like the (ruling) Ba'ath Party," Maleh, who withdrew from the SNC last month, told Reuters.
Representatives of Syria's Kurds followed suit, saying the SNC had failed to explicitly address Kurdish hopes of having an autonomous federal region within a post-Assad Syria.
11.23am: Several hundred Syrians fled across a border fence into Jordan last night, al-Jazeera reports – adding that most of them are now in Jordanian government custody:
Any Syrians crossing into Jordan illegally must hand in their passports and IDs to the local authorities and stay in buildings heavily guarded by police.
Last week the New York Times reported that Jordan is preparing a refugee camp in Mafraq, close to the frontier. By mid-March the UN had registered 5,391 Syrian refugees in Jordan, with more than 2,000 others still waiting to register.
The UN's refugee agency estimates that 100,000 could flee Syria over the next six months.
11.15am: Syria-watchers have often argued that economic factors will eventually determine the fate of the Assad regime – though they disagree about how long it will take to reach that point.
Businesses in Syria, though, are clearly having a hard time. Joshua Landis
writes on his blog:
One Christian industrialist from Aleppo whom I know is telling his friends that he is leaving Syria. His factory in the northern suburbs has been shut down by the opposition and he is unable to travel there any longer because of military operations. He will abandon his property and has already informed his workers that he cannot keep the factory open and that they must fend for themselves.
Another factory owner, whom I know, organized a meeting with opposition leaders in A'zaz, where his factory is located. He could not travel there himself, but delegated a factory administrator who knows the opposition leaders of the town to carry out the talks on his behalf. The factory has already had 300,000 Syrian pounds requisitioned.
The opposition agreed to allowing him to keep the factory open. I do not know what further arrangements were made in order to keep its doors open.
Landis also point to a Foreign Policy article where Beirut-based journalist Katie Paul describes how businesses that were attracted to Syria during the earlier economic liberalisation are now struggling to survive.
The strain has not gone without notice in the Assad regime's propaganda department, which has tried to convince consumers they can do just fine without the rest of the world ... Billboards are preaching self-sustainability as part of a governmental public awareness campaign to put a euphemistic spin on things: "Let us wear what we weave," the billboards tell Damascenes. "Let us drink what we squeeze", "Let us eat what we grow."
11.05am: An opposition group has urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to enter the northern Syrian town of Saraqeb, south-east of Idlib, where it claims 40 people have been killed since the start of an army raid on Sunday.
The Local Co-ordination Committees in Syria claims there are large number of unidentified corpses in the town's streets.
Video footage from Saraqeb appeared to back its claim that homes and shops had been burned and pillaged.
10.31am: Good to hear that Yemen's 70-year-old snake-dancing ex-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, is making an effort to keep fit.10.31am: Good to hear that Yemen's 70-year-old snake-dancing ex-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, is making an effort to keep fit.
A New York Times reader recalls how she was exercising in a hotel gym last February when some obviously secret-service types entered the room. "The next thing I know, they put this older gentleman on the treadmill next to me."A New York Times reader recalls how she was exercising in a hotel gym last February when some obviously secret-service types entered the room. "The next thing I know, they put this older gentleman on the treadmill next to me."
The woman, who had picked up a smattering of Arabic while living in Saudi Arabia, struck up a conversation – though because of her imperfect linguistic skills she fears she may have inadvertently propositioned him.The woman, who had picked up a smattering of Arabic while living in Saudi Arabia, struck up a conversation – though because of her imperfect linguistic skills she fears she may have inadvertently propositioned him.
He asks me a few more questions about how far I'm running ... and then I ask him where he is from. He and the secret service start to laugh, and after a few seconds he tells me that he is from Yemen.He asks me a few more questions about how far I'm running ... and then I ask him where he is from. He and the secret service start to laugh, and after a few seconds he tells me that he is from Yemen.
After parting ways, I go back to my room and Google "Yemen official in NYC," and his picture and name pops up. He's the president of Yemen, here for medical treatment.
/> 		After parting ways, I go back to my room and Google "Yemen official in NYC," and his picture and name pops up. He's the president of Yemen, here for medical treatment.
10.20am: Channel 4 News has broadcast footage showing activists in Homs embellishing reports of violence in staged videos.10.20am: Channel 4 News has broadcast footage showing activists in Homs embellishing reports of violence in staged videos.
In one clip activist Omar Telawi reported from a rooftop purporting to show the smouldering remains of shelled homes behind. It turned out that the smoke came tyres set light by activists, the Channel 4 News report claimed. It said such embellishment was unnecessary as the city was coming under bombardment.In one clip activist Omar Telawi reported from a rooftop purporting to show the smouldering remains of shelled homes behind. It turned out that the smoke came tyres set light by activists, the Channel 4 News report claimed. It said such embellishment was unnecessary as the city was coming under bombardment.

Telawi acknowledged the staged report, but claimed it was necessary to make the world take notice.

Telawi acknowledged the staged report, but claimed it was necessary to make the world take notice.

10.02am: Gunmen in the southern Yemeni city of Aden have kidnapped a Saudi diplomat, AFP reports.10.02am: Gunmen in the southern Yemeni city of Aden have kidnapped a Saudi diplomat, AFP reports.
Police in the city's Mansoura district said the gunmen snatched deputy consul Abdallah al-Khalidi, as he was about to get into his car and sped off with him in another vehicle.Police in the city's Mansoura district said the gunmen snatched deputy consul Abdallah al-Khalidi, as he was about to get into his car and sped off with him in another vehicle.
9.39am: The international motor racing body, the FIA, is emphatically denying that the controversial Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for next month, will be cancelled because of continuing disturbances in the Gulf kingdom.9.39am: The international motor racing body, the FIA, is emphatically denying that the controversial Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for next month, will be cancelled because of continuing disturbances in the Gulf kingdom.
Rumours of an impending cancellation have been circulating on Twitter and appear to be based on
a story on the F1Today website which was attributed to unnamed "sources in the paddock".		Rumours of an impending cancellation have been circulating on Twitter and appear to be based on
a story on the F1Today website which was attributed to unnamed "sources in the paddock".
Sheikh Abdullah bin Isa al-Khalifa, president of Bahrain's Automobile Federation had also been quoted as saying he was unable to offer guarantees over safety for the grand prix but his remarks seem to have been misinterpreted. He said there would be no special increase in security but visitors would be "as safe as at any other grand prix".Sheikh Abdullah bin Isa al-Khalifa, president of Bahrain's Automobile Federation had also been quoted as saying he was unable to offer guarantees over safety for the grand prix but his remarks seem to have been misinterpreted. He said there would be no special increase in security but visitors would be "as safe as at any other grand prix".
Since then, two other websites, F1 Cities and Top Car, have published statements from Norman Howell, the FIA's director of the communications, saying there is no truth at all in the cancellation rumours.Since then, two other websites, F1 Cities and Top Car, have published statements from Norman Howell, the FIA's director of the communications, saying there is no truth at all in the cancellation rumours.
The grand prix was not held in Bahrain last year because of unrest and opposition elements have been hoping for the cancellation of this year's event too. The regime has been accused of using it to gloss over political divisions in the kingdom – including the choice of slogan: "Unif1ed - One Nation in Celebration".The grand prix was not held in Bahrain last year because of unrest and opposition elements have been hoping for the cancellation of this year's event too. The regime has been accused of using it to gloss over political divisions in the kingdom – including the choice of slogan: "Unif1ed - One Nation in Celebration".
9.32am: Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has travelled to Iran for talks about Syria and Tehran's nuclear programme, AP reports.9.32am: Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has travelled to Iran for talks about Syria and Tehran's nuclear programme, AP reports.
Erdogan is expected to urge the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to accept that that regime change is inevitable in Syria, according to the Turkish daily Zaman.Erdogan is expected to urge the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to accept that that regime change is inevitable in Syria, according to the Turkish daily Zaman.
Turkey is due to host the second Friends of Syria meeting on Sunday.Turkey is due to host the second Friends of Syria meeting on Sunday.
9.13am: Three government soldiers have been killed in clashes with rebels in Rastan north of Homs, AP reports citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.9.13am: Three government soldiers have been killed in clashes with rebels in Rastan north of Homs, AP reports citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
It said clashes broke out today when government forces tried to enter Rastan.It said clashes broke out today when government forces tried to enter Rastan.
Yesterday activists posted footage of civilian houses in Rastan which they claimed had been shelled by government forces.Yesterday activists posted footage of civilian houses in Rastan which they claimed had been shelled by government forces.
Another clip from Rastan claimed to show Free Syrian Army fighters handing over released prisoners to their families.Another clip from Rastan claimed to show Free Syrian Army fighters handing over released prisoners to their families.
8.47am: Peter Harling from the International Crisis Group - one of the most respected experts on the crisis in Syria - is due to give a talk at the Council for Arab-British Understanding in London today.8.47am: Peter Harling from the International Crisis Group - one of the most respected experts on the crisis in Syria - is due to give a talk at the Council for Arab-British Understanding in London today.
We'll be popping along, so if you have any questions for Harling we'll try to put them to him. Please post suggestions in the comments section below.We'll be popping along, so if you have any questions for Harling we'll try to put them to him. Please post suggestions in the comments section below.
In his most recent report on Syria, Harling argued that Kofi Annan's mission to Syria represented the last chance of a negotiated settlement to the crisis. The report also criticised western interference and wishful thinking on Syria.In his most recent report on Syria, Harling argued that Kofi Annan's mission to Syria represented the last chance of a negotiated settlement to the crisis. The report also criticised western interference and wishful thinking on Syria.
In an earlier report in November, Harling warned of the increasing militarisation of the opposition.In an earlier report in November, Harling warned of the increasing militarisation of the opposition.
8.43am: The Syrian parliament – the People's Assembly – has urged President Assad to postpone the elections scheduled for 7 May, according to the official news agency, Sana.8.43am: The Syrian parliament – the People's Assembly – has urged President Assad to postpone the elections scheduled for 7 May, according to the official news agency, Sana.
The elections are part of a reform programme announced by Assad which he privately described as "rubbish" in an email to his wife. Sana says MPs want to delay the poll "so that the comprehensive reforms are consolidated, waiting for the outcome of the comprehensive national dialogue and empowering the licensed parties in light of the new parties law".The elections are part of a reform programme announced by Assad which he privately described as "rubbish" in an email to his wife. Sana says MPs want to delay the poll "so that the comprehensive reforms are consolidated, waiting for the outcome of the comprehensive national dialogue and empowering the licensed parties in light of the new parties law".
These would be the first elections since the constitution was changed, removing a reference to the ruling Ba'ath party as "the leading party in the society and the state". In theory that could allow one or more opposition parties to form a government if they won enough seats.These would be the first elections since the constitution was changed, removing a reference to the ruling Ba'ath party as "the leading party in the society and the state". In theory that could allow one or more opposition parties to form a government if they won enough seats.
However, new parties are ill-prepared for an election on 7 May. The latest party to be recognised by the regime, "Syria al-Watan", was granted its licence only last Sunday. So far, nine parties have been licensed, in addition to those allied to the Ba'ath party under the umbrella of the National Progressive Front.However, new parties are ill-prepared for an election on 7 May. The latest party to be recognised by the regime, "Syria al-Watan", was granted its licence only last Sunday. So far, nine parties have been licensed, in addition to those allied to the Ba'ath party under the umbrella of the National Progressive Front.
Meanwhile, the head of the elections committee, Khalaf al-Azzawi, says "all provinces are witnessing good turnout of candidates" – though the nomination period has been extended for another week "for citizens to get the required documents and for those who are outside the country to come back".Meanwhile, the head of the elections committee, Khalaf al-Azzawi, says "all provinces are witnessing good turnout of candidates" – though the nomination period has been extended for another week "for citizens to get the required documents and for those who are outside the country to come back".
Would-be candidates have to submit their applications to provincial governors. A nominations committee will then consider them and decide whether the candidates are suitable or not.Would-be candidates have to submit their applications to provincial governors. A nominations committee will then consider them and decide whether the candidates are suitable or not.
8.20am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. Clashes are reported to be continuing in Syria despite an apparent acceptance of Kofi Annan's peace plan by the government of president Bashar al-Assad.8.20am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. Clashes are reported to be continuing in Syria despite an apparent acceptance of Kofi Annan's peace plan by the government of president Bashar al-Assad.
Here's a roundup of the main developments in the region:Here's a roundup of the main developments in the region:
SyriaSyria
• Syria's acceptance of a UN-backed plan to end the country's bloody crisis has triggered sceptical responses and concern that Assad is trying to buy time and divide his opponents. On a day that a smiling Assad visited Baba Amr, the Homs suburb which has seen hundreds killed by his security forces in recent weeks, and the UN revised its estimate of Syria's death toll to more than 9,000 over the last year, no one was hailing an imminent breakthrough.• Syria's acceptance of a UN-backed plan to end the country's bloody crisis has triggered sceptical responses and concern that Assad is trying to buy time and divide his opponents. On a day that a smiling Assad visited Baba Amr, the Homs suburb which has seen hundreds killed by his security forces in recent weeks, and the UN revised its estimate of Syria's death toll to more than 9,000 over the last year, no one was hailing an imminent breakthrough.
• Syrian authorities are systematically targeting children, the United Nations' human rights chief, Navi Pillay, told the BBC.• Syrian authorities are systematically targeting children, the United Nations' human rights chief, Navi Pillay, told the BBC.
They've gone for the children - for whatever purposes - in large numbers. Hundreds detained and tortured... it's just horrendous. Children shot in the knees, held together with adults in really inhumane conditions, denied medical treatment for their injuries, either held as hostages or as sources of information. Factually there's enough evidence pointing to the fact that many of these acts are committed by the security forces [and] must have received the approval or the complicity at the highest level. Because President Assad could simply issue an order to stop the killings and the killings would stop.They've gone for the children - for whatever purposes - in large numbers. Hundreds detained and tortured... it's just horrendous. Children shot in the knees, held together with adults in really inhumane conditions, denied medical treatment for their injuries, either held as hostages or as sources of information. Factually there's enough evidence pointing to the fact that many of these acts are committed by the security forces [and] must have received the approval or the complicity at the highest level. Because President Assad could simply issue an order to stop the killings and the killings would stop.
• On the eve of its summit in Baghdad, the Arab League is discussing a draft resolution calling on Syria's government to hold talks with the opposition and to end the violence, AFP reports.• On the eve of its summit in Baghdad, the Arab League is discussing a draft resolution calling on Syria's government to hold talks with the opposition and to end the violence, AFP reports.
The draft resolution, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, urges the "Syrian government and all opposition factions to deal positively with the (UN-Arab League) envoy (Kofi Annan) by starting serious national dialogue."The draft resolution, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, urges the "Syrian government and all opposition factions to deal positively with the (UN-Arab League) envoy (Kofi Annan) by starting serious national dialogue."
It also calls on the Syrian opposition "to unify its ranks and prepare... to enter into serious dialogue (with the regime) to achieve the democratic life which is demanded by the Syrian people."It also calls on the Syrian opposition "to unify its ranks and prepare... to enter into serious dialogue (with the regime) to achieve the democratic life which is demanded by the Syrian people."
• Assad still thinks he can hang on and views the Annan plan as a step towards regaining international acceptance, argues Syria specialist Joshua Landis.• Assad still thinks he can hang on and views the Annan plan as a step towards regaining international acceptance, argues Syria specialist Joshua Landis.
The new UN peace plan does not insist on Assad handing over power to the revolutionary leadership, which is why Assad finds it acceptable and why the opposition has denounced it.The new UN peace plan does not insist on Assad handing over power to the revolutionary leadership, which is why Assad finds it acceptable and why the opposition has denounced it.
And speaking on Bloggingheads TV, Landis argues that non-intervention will be less damaging in the long run because Syria has to go through a nation building process.And speaking on Bloggingheads TV, Landis argues that non-intervention will be less damaging in the long run because Syria has to go through a nation building process.
He said:He said:
Syria needs a George Washington [figure]. America can't invent one for them and expect him to get any respect inside Syria. He's going to have to get that respect on the battlefield by defeating this regime.Syria needs a George Washington [figure]. America can't invent one for them and expect him to get any respect inside Syria. He's going to have to get that respect on the battlefield by defeating this regime.
EgyptEgypt
• Western governments have been encouraging the Muslim Brotherhood to consider offering the military generals currently running the country immunity against prosecution. Senior members of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party – Egypt's largest political movement, which holds almost half the seats in the country's new parliament – have told the Guardian that the international community has been covertly lobbying them to strike a deal with Scaf that would provide a "safe exit" for the ruling generals in exchange for a smooth transition to democracy.• Western governments have been encouraging the Muslim Brotherhood to consider offering the military generals currently running the country immunity against prosecution. Senior members of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party – Egypt's largest political movement, which holds almost half the seats in the country's new parliament – have told the Guardian that the international community has been covertly lobbying them to strike a deal with Scaf that would provide a "safe exit" for the ruling generals in exchange for a smooth transition to democracy.
LibyaLibya
• Up to 50 people were killed in clashes between rival militias in the southern city of Sabha, the Libya Herald reports. The number of wounded is put at 60. The dead are said to include the leader of the Sebha Martyrs Brigade, Issa Abdurrahman, who was wounded in the fighting on Tuesday.• Up to 50 people were killed in clashes between rival militias in the southern city of Sabha, the Libya Herald reports. The number of wounded is put at 60. The dead are said to include the leader of the Sebha Martyrs Brigade, Issa Abdurrahman, who was wounded in the fighting on Tuesday.