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| Syria crisis - live updates | Syria crisis - live updates |
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| 11.04am: Syria: The opposition Syrian National Council has re-elected Burhan Ghalioun (pictured) as its president at a meeting in Rome, Reuters reports. | |
| He was reported to have secured almost twice as many votes as his nearest challenger George Sabra. | |
| Reuters reports: | |
| Ghalioun, a secular academic, has been leader of the opposition in exile since August 2011 when the SNC was formed. But he has been criticised for being out of touch with the opposition inside Syria and for failing to unify the SNC. | |
| 10.50am: Israel and Palestinian territories: The international community should "pay its historic debt to the Palestinian people", Saeb Erekat (pictured), the chief Palestinian negotiator, says in a statement issued to mark Nakba Day. | |
| He said: | |
| "Sixty-four years ago, a nation's thriving society and rich culture was forced into exile and mass expulsion. A country was wiped out off the map. | |
| Today, the international community has the moral responsibility to repair what has been done by putting an end to Israel's impunity and realising the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to self-determination, independence, and return, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions ... | |
| Israel has been doing everything possible to destroy the prospects for a two-state solution and to render attempts at reaching a just and agreed settlement to the conflict meaningless. | |
| We call on the EU to protect its investment in peace and its vision for a two-state solution by exerting every effort within its power to end the Israeli occupation." | |
| 10.44am: Israel and Palestinian territories: Sirens sounded at noon in Ramallah as hundreds of Palestinians observed Nakba Day, the Bethlehem-based Maan News Agency reports. | |
| Maan is liveblogging today's events which commemorate the dispossession of Palestinians in 1948 during the establishment of Israel. | |
| It says Hamas has released a statement to mark the anniversary saying that "countries which contributed to the Nakba of Palestine, namely Britain, must do penance for their sin by stopping Israeli aggressiveness". | |
| The Associated Press says marchers in Ramallah carried Palestinian flags and posters, some of which read: "Return is our right and our destiny." It adds that dozens of youngsters threw stones at Israeli troops near Ramallah, and soldiers fired tear gas to push them back. | |
| This was the scene in Ramallah according to activists: | |
| Ramallah NOW #Nakba64 twitter.com/Occupy2gether/… | |
| — Occupy Together(@Occupy2gether) May 15, 2012 | |
| 10.24am: Syria: There's more confusion over who was responsible for last Thursday's bomb attacks in Damascus which killed at least 55 people. | |
| The shadowy al-Nusra Front has now denied that it claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the terrorist monitoring group Site. | |
| A video posted online claiming it carried out the attack was faked it said. | |
| Now Lebanon quoted its new statement as saying: "We say, this video as well as the statement appearing in it are fabricated and... full of errors." | |
| It's all very murky, since some Syria activists claim the group has been fabricated by the Syrian government in an effort to smear the opposition. | |
| 10.13am: Syria: Russia has warned Kosovo against allowing Syrian opposition fighters to be trained on its territory, Now Lebanon reports via AFP. | 10.13am: Syria: Russia has warned Kosovo against allowing Syrian opposition fighters to be trained on its territory, Now Lebanon reports via AFP. |
| Russian ambassador [at the UN] Vitaly Churkin condemned what he called "disturbing information" that Kosovo authorities had been "establishing contacts with the Syrian opposition to train insurgents" in Kosovo. Kosovo's foreign minister denied any training was planned. | Russian ambassador [at the UN] Vitaly Churkin condemned what he called "disturbing information" that Kosovo authorities had been "establishing contacts with the Syrian opposition to train insurgents" in Kosovo. Kosovo's foreign minister denied any training was planned. |
| Diplomats and media reports said that at least three exiled Syrian activists have been in Kosovo recently for talks with the former Kosovo rebels who fought a separatist war against Serbia in 1998-99. | |
| Kosovo has denied training fighters. | Kosovo has denied training fighters. |
| The Syrian activists who went to Kosovo were exiled dissident Ammar Abdulhamid, Molham Aldroby, a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Djengizkhan Hasso, a leading member of the National Assembly of Kurdistan. Abdulhamid has written about the trip it on his blog. | The Syrian activists who went to Kosovo were exiled dissident Ammar Abdulhamid, Molham Aldroby, a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Djengizkhan Hasso, a leading member of the National Assembly of Kurdistan. Abdulhamid has written about the trip it on his blog. |
| The Associated Press, which reported their trip on 26 April, said they were "turning to Kosovo's former rebels-turned-politicians for advice on how to topple Bashar Assad's regime". It quoted Abdulhamid as saying: | The Associated Press, which reported their trip on 26 April, said they were "turning to Kosovo's former rebels-turned-politicians for advice on how to topple Bashar Assad's regime". It quoted Abdulhamid as saying: |
| We are here to learn. Kosovo has gone through an experience that I think will be very useful to us in terms of how the different armed groups that formed the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) organised themselves. | We are here to learn. Kosovo has gone through an experience that I think will be very useful to us in terms of how the different armed groups that formed the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) organised themselves. |
| Russia Today recycled the Associated Press story on 4 May but with a different spin. It said the three Syrians went to Kosovo "to exchange experience of partisan warfare", adding that the Syrian opposition "is sending militants to Kosovo for adopting tactics and being trained to oust President Bashar Assad's regime". | Russia Today recycled the Associated Press story on 4 May but with a different spin. It said the three Syrians went to Kosovo "to exchange experience of partisan warfare", adding that the Syrian opposition "is sending militants to Kosovo for adopting tactics and being trained to oust President Bashar Assad's regime". |
| Abdulhamid insists that it was an "innocent visit". The group were reportedly invited by Veton Surroi, a Kosovan politician who was a senior negotiator for Kosovo at the Rambouillet peace talks in 1999. Last week, Surroi wrote an article arguing that the Balkan conflict of the 1990s holds lessons for Syria. | Abdulhamid insists that it was an "innocent visit". The group were reportedly invited by Veton Surroi, a Kosovan politician who was a senior negotiator for Kosovo at the Rambouillet peace talks in 1999. Last week, Surroi wrote an article arguing that the Balkan conflict of the 1990s holds lessons for Syria. |
| 10.00am: Lebanon/Syria: The Lebanese army appears to have quelled sectarian gun battles in the northern port of Tripoli, according to Lebanon-based journalists. | 10.00am: Lebanon/Syria: The Lebanese army appears to have quelled sectarian gun battles in the northern port of Tripoli, according to Lebanon-based journalists. |
| El Mundo's Javier Espinosa, who escaped from Homs earlier this year, tweets: | El Mundo's Javier Espinosa, who escaped from Homs earlier this year, tweets: |
| I see more army and police in the streets of #TripoliLB less fighting #Lebanon | I see more army and police in the streets of #TripoliLB less fighting #Lebanon |
| — JAVIER ESPINOSA (@javierespinosa2) May 15, 2012 | — JAVIER ESPINOSA (@javierespinosa2) May 15, 2012 |
| Lebanese agency NNA: last night 1 dead and 45 wounded #TripoliLB #Lebanon | Lebanese agency NNA: last night 1 dead and 45 wounded #TripoliLB #Lebanon |
| — JAVIER ESPINOSA (@javierespinosa2) May 15, 2012 | — JAVIER ESPINOSA (@javierespinosa2) May 15, 2012 |
| AP's Bassem Mroue tweets: | AP's Bassem Mroue tweets: |
| North Lebanese city calm after three days of street clashes over Syria's crisis #Lebanon #Syria #TripoliLB | North Lebanese city calm after three days of street clashes over Syria's crisis #Lebanon #Syria #TripoliLB |
| — Bassem Mroue (@bmroue) May 15, 2012 | — Bassem Mroue (@bmroue) May 15, 2012 |
| And Al-Jazeera's Rula Amin tweets a similar picture: | And Al-Jazeera's Rula Amin tweets a similar picture: |
| Lebanese army slowly deploys in the tense areas of #Tripoli overnight as fighting comes to a lull #lebanon #syria | Lebanese army slowly deploys in the tense areas of #Tripoli overnight as fighting comes to a lull #lebanon #syria |
| — Rula Amin (@RulaAmin) May 15, 2012 | — Rula Amin (@RulaAmin) May 15, 2012 |
| 9.37am: Syria: The opposition Syrian National Council said it decided to stay away from the now postponed Arab League meeting in Cairo, because the league's general secretary Nabil al-Arabi suggested he wanted to begin a dialogue with the Assad government. | 9.37am: Syria: The opposition Syrian National Council said it decided to stay away from the now postponed Arab League meeting in Cairo, because the league's general secretary Nabil al-Arabi suggested he wanted to begin a dialogue with the Assad government. |
| In a statement it said: | In a statement it said: |
| The SNC has repeatedly made its position clear; it will not participate in any dialogue unless it revolves around the end of the dictatorial regime and the establishment of a democratic form of government in Syria. Therefore, al-Arabi's statement clearly contradicts with the goals of the SNC. Dialogue cannot be considered until the Assad regime fulfils its promises to the Syrian people, starting with the implementation of a complete ceasefire. It also needs to withdraw heavy artillery and security forces from cities to military barracks, free detainees, allow relief agencies into the country, allow reporters and journalists to freely move around Syria, and grant the people the right to peacefully demonstrate without fear of retaliation in all cities and villages across Syria. | The SNC has repeatedly made its position clear; it will not participate in any dialogue unless it revolves around the end of the dictatorial regime and the establishment of a democratic form of government in Syria. Therefore, al-Arabi's statement clearly contradicts with the goals of the SNC. Dialogue cannot be considered until the Assad regime fulfils its promises to the Syrian people, starting with the implementation of a complete ceasefire. It also needs to withdraw heavy artillery and security forces from cities to military barracks, free detainees, allow relief agencies into the country, allow reporters and journalists to freely move around Syria, and grant the people the right to peacefully demonstrate without fear of retaliation in all cities and villages across Syria. |
| 9.25am: Syria: Britain's foreign secretary William Hague has urged the UN to deploy all 300 peace keeping monitors to Syria. | 9.25am: Syria: Britain's foreign secretary William Hague has urged the UN to deploy all 300 peace keeping monitors to Syria. |
| Called #Syria Envoy Kofi Annan to urge political process & full deployment of UN mission. Thanked him for his work & gave full UK support | Called #Syria Envoy Kofi Annan to urge political process & full deployment of UN mission. Thanked him for his work & gave full UK support |
| — William Hague (@WilliamJHague) May 15, 2012 | — William Hague (@WilliamJHague) May 15, 2012 |
| There are currently 189 monitors in Syria with the full complement not expected to be deployed until the end of May. | There are currently 189 monitors in Syria with the full complement not expected to be deployed until the end of May. |
| 9.07am: Syria: The head of the electoral commission has announced that turnout in last week's parliamentary elections was more than 50%, the despite a boycott of the poll by the opposition. | 9.07am: Syria: The head of the electoral commission has announced that turnout in last week's parliamentary elections was more than 50%, the despite a boycott of the poll by the opposition. |
| The results are due to be announced today, according to the state news agency. | The results are due to be announced today, according to the state news agency. |
| 8.36am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. The Syrian government is starting to announce result from parliamentary elections that the US government described as "ludicrous". | 8.36am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. The Syrian government is starting to announce result from parliamentary elections that the US government described as "ludicrous". |
| Here's a round up of the latest developments: | Here's a round up of the latest developments: |
| Lebanon | Lebanon |
| • The Lebanese army has intervened to prevent sectarian clashes in the country's second city Tripoli after Syrian crisis spilled over into three days of gun battles that killed five people in the city. Heavily armed soldiers were seen taking up positions on Syria Street which separates the mostly Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh from the predominantly Alawite Jabal Mohsen, Beirut's Daily Star reports. | • The Lebanese army has intervened to prevent sectarian clashes in the country's second city Tripoli after Syrian crisis spilled over into three days of gun battles that killed five people in the city. Heavily armed soldiers were seen taking up positions on Syria Street which separates the mostly Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh from the predominantly Alawite Jabal Mohsen, Beirut's Daily Star reports. |
| Syria | Syria |
| • Nearly two dozen Syrian government soldiers were killed in intense clashes with the opposition over control of the central, rebel-held city of Rastan, opposition groups said Monday, deepening questions about the viability of a cease-fire engineered under United Nations auspices, the New York Times reports. | • Nearly two dozen Syrian government soldiers were killed in intense clashes with the opposition over control of the central, rebel-held city of Rastan, opposition groups said Monday, deepening questions about the viability of a cease-fire engineered under United Nations auspices, the New York Times reports. |
| After enduring days of mortar fire from a government stronghold on Rastan's outskirts, the rebel soldiers decided to attack the base, said Capt. Iyad ad-Deek, a commander there and a Syrian Army defector. They first used loudspeakers to encourage soldiers to switch sides, he said in an interview via Skype. | After enduring days of mortar fire from a government stronghold on Rastan's outskirts, the rebel soldiers decided to attack the base, said Capt. Iyad ad-Deek, a commander there and a Syrian Army defector. They first used loudspeakers to encourage soldiers to switch sides, he said in an interview via Skype. |
| Four soldiers tried to defect with a T-62 tank, he said, but the government forces focused their fire on the tank, killing the commander and wounding the three other men. | Four soldiers tried to defect with a T-62 tank, he said, but the government forces focused their fire on the tank, killing the commander and wounding the three other men. |
| • European Union has imposed its fifteenth round of sanctions against the Syrian regime, CNN reports. The EU ministers froze the assets of two firms and imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on three people believed to provide funding for the regime, the European Council announced. | • European Union has imposed its fifteenth round of sanctions against the Syrian regime, CNN reports. The EU ministers froze the assets of two firms and imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on three people believed to provide funding for the regime, the European Council announced. |
| • The Arab League has postponed talks on Syria due to be held today after the opposition Syrian National Council refused to attend. International envoy Kofi Annan had been due to address the meeting. | • The Arab League has postponed talks on Syria due to be held today after the opposition Syrian National Council refused to attend. International envoy Kofi Annan had been due to address the meeting. |
| • Government forces have attack humanitarian aid workers according to report by the USAID, Foreign Policy reports. In its latest update the agency said troops attacked Syrian Arab Red Crescent vehicle on 24 April which was trying to evacuate wounded civiliansfrom Douma, a suburb of Damascus. One volunteer was killed and three were injured. Twenty-six aid workers were trapped in an SARC building following the attack and the SARC had to negotiate a temporary ceasefire between opposition and government forces to get them out, USAID reported. | • Government forces have attack humanitarian aid workers according to report by the USAID, Foreign Policy reports. In its latest update the agency said troops attacked Syrian Arab Red Crescent vehicle on 24 April which was trying to evacuate wounded civiliansfrom Douma, a suburb of Damascus. One volunteer was killed and three were injured. Twenty-six aid workers were trapped in an SARC building following the attack and the SARC had to negotiate a temporary ceasefire between opposition and government forces to get them out, USAID reported. |
| • "Idlib is our Benghazi," Free Syrian Army fighters told the Independent's Portia Walker. But their attempts to former a shadow state in the north west Syria are a long way from the Libyan safe haven protected by Nato air strikes, she writes. | • "Idlib is our Benghazi," Free Syrian Army fighters told the Independent's Portia Walker. But their attempts to former a shadow state in the north west Syria are a long way from the Libyan safe haven protected by Nato air strikes, she writes. |
| • A Turkish journalist who was held captive in Syria for two months said he was intensely interrogated while blindfolded by Syrian authorities who suspected he was a spy. Adem Ozkose (left), and a colleague, cameraman Hamit Coskun (right) flew home to Turkey this weekend after Iran helped to secure their release. | • A Turkish journalist who was held captive in Syria for two months said he was intensely interrogated while blindfolded by Syrian authorities who suspected he was a spy. Adem Ozkose (left), and a colleague, cameraman Hamit Coskun (right) flew home to Turkey this weekend after Iran helped to secure their release. |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| • Former foreign minister Amr Moussa is edging ahead in the latest opinion polls while his rival in last week's TV debate, Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, has dropped into third place. Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's last prime minister, jumped to second place in this week's survey, receiving almost 20% – a 2% increase on the last poll, Ahram reports. | • Former foreign minister Amr Moussa is edging ahead in the latest opinion polls while his rival in last week's TV debate, Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, has dropped into third place. Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's last prime minister, jumped to second place in this week's survey, receiving almost 20% – a 2% increase on the last poll, Ahram reports. |
| Israel and Palestinian territories | Israel and Palestinian territories |
| • Clashes have broken out between Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya, at the start of Nakba day protests, al-Arabiya reports. Israel also said a projectile fired from Gaza landed in the country's south. | • Clashes have broken out between Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya, at the start of Nakba day protests, al-Arabiya reports. Israel also said a projectile fired from Gaza landed in the country's south. |
| • There is a sort of bizarre political ying-yang today, writes Khaled Diab as Israelis celebrate their independence and the birth of their country, while Palestinians grieve over their dispossession and the loss of their land. Known to Arabs as the Nakba (catastrophe), it is scorched deep into the collective and private memories of Palestinians. Here's how the Manchester Guardian covered the estabilisment of the Israel in 1948. | • There is a sort of bizarre political ying-yang today, writes Khaled Diab as Israelis celebrate their independence and the birth of their country, while Palestinians grieve over their dispossession and the loss of their land. Known to Arabs as the Nakba (catastrophe), it is scorched deep into the collective and private memories of Palestinians. Here's how the Manchester Guardian covered the estabilisment of the Israel in 1948. |
| Bahrain and Saudi Arabia | Bahrain and Saudi Arabia |
| • Saudi-led plans for deeper Gulf Arab regional integration to challenge Iran are in doubt after the failure to announce an expected unity deal between Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Bahrain. Expectations had been running high ahead of a special summit of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, but a decision was put off until the GCC next meets, in December. Iranian MPs warned that the plans were likely to increase insecurity in the Gulf. The proposal has been angrily denounced by the Bahraini opposition, which see it as a way to unite the two western-backed Sunni monarchies to work together to crush Shia dissent and confront Iran. | • Saudi-led plans for deeper Gulf Arab regional integration to challenge Iran are in doubt after the failure to announce an expected unity deal between Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Bahrain. Expectations had been running high ahead of a special summit of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, but a decision was put off until the GCC next meets, in December. Iranian MPs warned that the plans were likely to increase insecurity in the Gulf. The proposal has been angrily denounced by the Bahraini opposition, which see it as a way to unite the two western-backed Sunni monarchies to work together to crush Shia dissent and confront Iran. |