This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21442871

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Syria crisis: Qatar 'handing embassy to opposition' Syria crisis: Qatar handing embassy over to opposition
(about 3 hours later)
The Gulf state of Qatar has reportedly decided to hand over the Syrian embassy in its capital, Doha, to the main opposition alliance in Syria. Qatar is to hand over the Syrian embassy in its capital, Doha, to Syria's main opposition group.
News of the transfer was announced by the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), which has already appointed an ambassador and staff members. The news was announced by the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), which has already appointed an ambassador.
Qatar was among the first states to recognise the SNC as the official representative of the Syrian people.Qatar was among the first states to recognise the SNC as the official representative of the Syrian people.
A senior UN official has said the death toll in Syria is now nearly 70,000. Meanwhile, Syria's former foreign ministry spokesman has told the BBC he abandoned the regime because his hopes for reform had been dashed.
Human rights chief Navi Pillay had given an estimate of at least 60,000 at the beginning of the year. Jihad Makdissi, who disappeared from Damascus in early December, told BBC Arabic he left Syria quietly to be independent and support what he called "the peaceful change that's based on national dialogue and partnership away from hatred, extremism and foreign military intervention".
Russia has confirmed it is still supplying arms to Syria's government. However, the head of the state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, said the supplies did not include attack weapons such as planes or helicopters. Mr Makdissi had been one of the main public faces of the regime, outlining its position in many news conferences.
In fighting this week, Syrian rebels captured an air base near the northern city of Aleppo and overran Syria's biggest hydro-electric dam, Thawra, in the north-east. His whereabouts remain unknown, though in a statement to the BBC he said he was not in Europe or the US but with "brothers" who were supporting the Syrian people without discrimination.
Mr Makdissi said he left in the way he did because he did not want to be used as a "dagger" by one side against the other.
'Defensive weapons''Defensive weapons'
According to the SNC, the opposition flag will fly over the embassy in Doha, and the new ambassador and two of his staff will be accorded full diplomatic status.According to the SNC, the opposition flag will fly over the embassy in Doha, and the new ambassador and two of his staff will be accorded full diplomatic status.
The SNC has appointed ambassadors to other states which have recognised it, including the UK and France, but Qatar is the first to hand over an embassy, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut.The SNC has appointed ambassadors to other states which have recognised it, including the UK and France, but Qatar is the first to hand over an embassy, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut.
Clearly, the Coalition hopes others will follow suit, our correspondent adds. Clearly, the coalition hopes others will follow suit, our correspondent adds.
Ms Pillay announced on 2 January that the death toll in Syria had reached at least 60,000 since the uprising began in March 2011. UN human rights chief Navi Pillay meanwhile has said the death toll in Syria had reached nearly 70,000 since the uprising began in March 2011.
Reporting the new toll at a UN Security Council debate in New York on Tuesday, she called on the Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. At the start of this year Ms Pillay had estimated a death toll of at least 60,000.
Speaking at a UN Security Council debate in New York on Tuesday, Ms Pillay called on the Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
"The lack of consensus on Syria and the resulting inaction has been disastrous and civilians on all sides have paid the price," she said."The lack of consensus on Syria and the resulting inaction has been disastrous and civilians on all sides have paid the price," she said.
"We will be judged against the tragedy that has unfolded before our eyes.""We will be judged against the tragedy that has unfolded before our eyes."
In Moscow, Rosoboronexport chief Anatoly Isaikin said Russia's contracted defence shipments to Syria would continue "in the absence of sanctions". On Wednesday, Russia confirmed it is still supplying arms to Syria's government. However, Anatoly Isaikin, the head of the state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, said the supplies did not include attack weapons such as planes or helicopters.
Mr Isaikin said Russia's contracted defence shipments to Syria would continue "in the absence of sanctions".
"But these aren't offensive weapons," he stressed. "We are mostly shipping air defence systems and repair equipment intended for various branches of the military.""But these aren't offensive weapons," he stressed. "We are mostly shipping air defence systems and repair equipment intended for various branches of the military."
Russia, together with China, has opposed moves at the UN to place sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad's government.Russia, together with China, has opposed moves at the UN to place sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad's government.