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3:14 PM - 3 Dec 12 · Details
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LIVE UPDATES ON EVENTS IN SYRIA
FLASH: U.N. sending "all non-essential international staff out of Syria," halting aid missions outside Damascus for now - U.N. humanitarian agencyby Matthew Keys 11:51 AM
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- NATO Secy. Gen. Rasmussen to CNN's Amanpour: "The deployment of the patriot missiles doesn't aim at preparing a no-fly zone...(it's) purely (a) defensive measure. It doesn't aim at preparing any offensive operation."by Matthew Keys 3:08 PM
- NATO Secy. Gen. Rasmussen to CNN's Amanpour: "We don't know...the intentions of the Syrian regime. I do hope that the fact that we will deploy patriot missiles in Turkey will serve as an effective deterrent so that any potential aggressor will have to think twice before even considering an attack on Turkey."by Matthew Keys 3:07 PM
- NATO Secy. Gen. Rasmussen to CNN's Amanpour: "We have seen outrageous actions by the Syrian regime and their security forces...let me stress that we have no intention to intervene militarily in Syria."by Matthew Keys 3:06 PM
- NATO Secy. Gen. Rasmussen to CNN's Amanpour: "Very much concerned about the situation along the" border between Turkey and Syriaby Matthew Keys 3:05 PM
U.S. State Department Spokesman Mark Toner comments on Syriaby Matthew Keys 2:21 PM
EU says cuts Damascus activities because of security situation
BRUSSELS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The European Union's office in Damascus is cutting back its activities in the Syrian capital to a minimum because of the security situation, an EU official said on Monday.
"The EU delegation has decided to reduce activities in Damascus to a minimum level due to the current security conditions," a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in response to a question from Reuters.
The EU diplomatic service has an office in Damascus that has remained open throughout the Syrian crisis so far.by anthony.derosa 2:21 PM- EU SAYS DELEGATION IN DAMASCUS REDUCES ACTIVITIES TO MINIMUM LEVEL DUE TO SECURITY CONDITIONSby anthony.derosa 2:12 PM
- U.S. State Department Spokesman Toner: Can't confirm reports foreign minister has defected from Syria.by Matthew Keys 1:43 PM
- U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Toner: "Rebel forces are making advances. The Syrian regime is growing increasingly desperate."by Matthew Keys 1:42 PM
- US concerned about Syria's intentions on weapons-White House
WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The United States' concerns about Syria's intentions regarding use of chemical weapons is increasing, prompting Washington to prepare contingency plans, White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Monday.
Carney's comments came after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that the United States would take action if Syria used the weapons.
Carney declined to say what the contingency plans involved.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland; Editing by Bill Trott)by anthony.derosa 1:30 PM - Reuters: White House says any use of chemical weapons by Syria regime would cross a red line, U.S. concerns about Syria's intentions has increasedby Matthew Keys 12:44 PM
- UN pulls "non-essential" Syria staff due insecurity
GENEVA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Monday it was withdrawing "all non-essential international staff" from Syria due to the worsening security situation, and was restricting remaining staff to the capital.
Up to 25 of about 100 international staff could leave this week, it said, adding that more armoured vehicles were needed following attacks on humanitarian aid convoys sometimes caught in crossfire between Syrian government and rebel forces.
"The U.N. has decided to send all non-essential international staff out of Syria and to halt all field trips outside of the capital for now," the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.by anthony.derosa 12:09 PM - Syria denies plans to use chemical weapons
Syria said on Monday it would not use chemical weapons against its own people after the United States warned it would take action against any such escalation.
The statements came amid media reports, citing European and U.S. officials, that Syria's chemical weapons had been moved and could be prepared for use in response to dramatic gains by rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
"Syria has stressed repeatedly that it will not use these types of weapons, if they were available, under any circumstances against its people," the foreign ministry said.
Read on... (By Erika Solomon)by Matthew Keys 12:02 PM - Syrian foreign ministry spokesman defects: regional diplomatic source
Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi has defected from President Bashar al-Assad's government and has left the country, a regional diplomatic source said on Monday.
"All I can say is that he is out of Syria," the source, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.
Lebanon's al-Manar Television said earlier that Makdissi had been sacked for making statements which did not reflect official positions.
(Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Amman newsroom; Editing by Pravin Char)by Matthew Keys 11:37 AM - Syrian foreign ministry spokesman sacked - Manar TV
BEIRUT, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Syria's Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi has been sacked for making statements which did not reflect official government positions, Lebanon's al-Manar Television said on Monday.
Makdissi often spoke at news conferences in Damascus to set out Syria's response to the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad but was rarely seen in the media in recent weeks, raising speculation that he may have defected.
Makdissi's mobile telephone was switched off on Monday evening and there was no immediate comment on Syrian state media.by anthony.derosa 11:13 AM - Violence stops EgyptAir flight to Damascus - airline official
CAIRO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - An EgyptAir flight from Cairo to Damascus turned back on Monday because of the "bad security situation" at the Syrian capital's airport, an EgyptAir official said.
"Egyptian authorities told Flight 721 to go back to Cairo, based on information received from Damascus," the official said.by anthony.derosa 10:17 AM - EGYPTAIR FLIGHT FROM CAIRO TO DAMASCUS TURNS BACK BECAUSE OF "BAD SECURITY SITUATION" AT AIRPORT-EGYPTAIR OFFICIALby anthony.derosa 10:07 AM
- Possible evidence of surface to air missiles used by Syrian rebels. Credit: YouTube/aboabd907by anthony.derosa November 30 at 5:00 PM
- Melissa Fleming, UNHCR’s Chief Spokesperson, states that a United Nations assessment team has found acute humanitarian needs in Homs. Fleming notes that the humanitarian needs there are “absolutely dramatic.”by anthony.derosa November 30 at 4:59 PM
- U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Friday that the United States condemns any effort by any group to restrict communication access in Syria, adding that the State Department understood Syrians have been communicating by other means, including Twitter, during the blackout.by Matthew Keys November 30 at 1:48 PM
- Syrian rebel films himself shooting 10 prisoners
New footage posted on the Internet appears to have been filmed by a Syrian rebel who points the camera along the barrel of his gun as he shoots 10 unarmed prisoners.
The video, posted on YouTube on Thursday, shows 10 men wearing t-shirts and camouflage trousers lying face down next to a building and a lookout tower. Even before the shooting, two of the men are not moving and one has blood coming from his torso.
Read onby anthony.derosa November 30 at 11:30 AM - Anonymous declares Internet war on Syria
Global hacking network Anonymous said it will shut down Syrian government websites around the world in response to a countrywide Internet blackout believed to be aimed at silencing the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad.
Syria was plunged into communication darkness on Thursday when Internet connectivity stopped at midday. Land lines and mobile phones networks were also seriously disrupted.
The Syrian government said "terrorists" had attacked Internet lines but the opposition and human rights groups suspect it to be the work of the authorities.
Read onby anthony.derosa November 30 at 10:14 AM 
A wounded Austrian peacekeeping soldier (C) is wheeled into Rambam Hospital in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, in this handout photo obtained by Reuters from a Rambam Hospital spokesperson on November 30, 2012. Two Austrian peacekeeping soldiers wounded in crossfire in Syria were transferred to Israel for treatment on Friday, a hospital spokesman said, describing their condition as not life-threatening. REUTERS/Rambam Hospital/Handout
