WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama has postponed a Congress vote on military action in Syria, vowing to pursue diplomacy to remove the regime’s chemical weapons. Damascus has admitted for the first time that it has chemical weapons, and has agreed to abide by a Russian plan to hand over its arsenal. The US threatened…
DAMASCUS – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has told a US broadcaster there is “no evidence” that his government has used chemical weapons. In the interview with PBS, to be aired on Monday, he also suggested his allies would retaliate if the West attacked. US Secretary of State John Kerry has been lobbying hard for military…
CANBERRA – Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has conceded defeat in the general election, as Tony Abbott’s Liberal-National coalition swept to power. Mr Abbot said he looked forward to forming a competent and trustworthy government. With about two-thirds of the votes counted, the opposition coalition had secured a parliamentary majority. The campaign has been dramatic,…
CANBERRA – Australian political rivals Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott have hit the campaign trail in a final push for votes ahead of Saturday’s election. Opinion polls place the opposition coalition, led by Mr Abbott, ahead of the ruling Labor party. But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appealed to undecided voters, saying they could close the…
WASHINGTON – A US Senate panel has approved the use of military force in Syria, in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack. By 10-7, the Committee on Foreign Relations moved the measure to a full Senate vote, expected next week. The proposal allows the use of force in Syria for 60 days with the…
MOSCOW – World leaders from the G20 group of nations are set to meet in Russia amid sharp differences over military action against Syria’s government. Ahead of the talks, Russia’s Vladimir Putin warned that action without UN approval would be “an aggression”. But President Barack Obama said the credibility of the international community was on…
LONDON – David Frost, the veteran television host, author and producer, has died at the age of 74 following a heart attack. The only person to have interviewed the last seven presidents of the US and the last six prime ministers of the UK, Frost had been with Al Jazeera English since its launch in…
ISLAMABAD – New murder charges have been registered against Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, officials say. Mr Musharraf, who is currently under house arrest, already faces murder charges over the deaths of Benazir Bhutto and a Baloch tribal leader. He also faces charges over his attempt to sack Pakistan’s higher judiciary in 2007 and…
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the US to present to the UN evidence that Syria attacked rebels with chemical weapons near Damascus. Mr Putin said it would be “utter nonsense” for Syria’s government to provoke opponents with such attacks. US President Barack Obama says he is considering military action against Syria after…
PARIS – The French president has said a vote by UK MPs against involvement in military strikes on Syria has not changed France’s resolve to take firm action. Francois Hollande said all options were being considered, and that a strike within days was not ruled out. His comments came after US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel…
