Archive: Syria

Cameron: No UK troops to Syria despite chemical fears

Anti-Assad regime protesters in Syria, February 2012.

US and UK officials said there is limited but growing evidence that Syria possesses chemical weapons. Deployment of British troops is unlikely, David Cameron has said.

UK lashes out at Syria for intimidating British citizens

MPs demand new Arab Spring strategy amid Syria violence

The week in politics: Man's inhumanity to man

UK going its own way? Pressure builds for Cameron to defy EU over Syria

Cameron urged to act on Syria as Amnesty International reports horrific violence from both sides of the conflict.

Cameron is under increasing pressure to defy the current EU arms embargo on Syria following new evidence of atrocities in the country.

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William Hague statement to the house on Gaza and Syria

Hague addressed a near packed chamber today

Read the foreign secretary's statement in full to the Commons on Gaza and Syria here

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UK recognises Syrian opposition

The UK will be supporting but not arming rebels

Foreign secretary William Hague has announced the UK will formally recognise the Syrian opposition as the country's legitimate government.

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Outrage at British plan to return Syrian asylum seeker

Despite civil war in the country, the government wants to send Syrian asylum seekers home and human rights groups such as Amnesty International are fighting to let them stay.

Human rights groups have reacted angrily at the news the government is trying to return asylum seekers to Syria, despite the civil war in the country.

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Syria: Has Cameron taken the first step towards war?

A Free Syria army member sits guard at a gate during the funeral of a man who was killed by a shrapnel in Qusayr earlier this year.

David Cameron agreed that the use of chemical weapons in Syria could trigger western intervention, following a telephone conversation with Barack Obama last night.

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Foreign Office expected to change Lebanon travel advice

Lebanese masked gunmen from the al-Muqdad clan ready to speak to the press in Beirut's southern suburbs on August 15, 2012. The Muqdads, a large Lebanese Shiite Muslim clan, said it has kidnapped at least 20 Syrians to try to secure the release of a family member abducted near Damascus this week

The Foreign Office may be about to change travel advice for Brits in Lebanon, after the Syria conflict threatened to spill over into the neighbouring state.

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William Hague Syrian rebels statement in full

William Hague on Syria, the Arab Spring and the role of the UK

Read William Hague's statement promising new assistance to the rebels in Syria in full.

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Comment: The perils of British action in Syria

Matthew Ashton on Syria, Assad and western intervention

Western action in Syria could pour gas on the world's biggest bonfire.

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The judo diplomacy: Putin backs down on Pussy Riot

Hard man: The Russian president cultivates a tough image in Russia.

David Cameron appeared to score a minor victory in his talks with Vladimir Putin yesterday, after the Russian president urged the courts to treat punk group Pussy Riot leniently.

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Medvedev reaches out to UK as Pussy Riot trial begins

Dmitry Medvedev is in UK for Olympic Games

Britain and Russia have "overcome" their differences, Dmitry Medvedev has claimed, amid growing tensions over the fate of Syria - and a Russian punk group.

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MPs demand new Arab Spring strategy amid Syria violence

The UK needs a new strategy to address Arab Spring uprisings, the committee said

The UK needs to change its Middle East strategy in response to the Arab Spring, an influential committee of MPs said today.

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Hague appalled at Syria barbarism

William Hague promises to stop war criminals in Syria

Foreign secretary William Hague has vowed to bring justice to Syria after the publication of a report exposing a state policy of torture in over 27 detention centres.

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Syria crisis escalates as UK prevents Russia sending missiles

Vladimir Putin managed to prevent any mention of regime change in a joint statement on Syria with Barack Obama yesterday.

The UK dramatically intervened to prevent a Russian ship from delivering missiles and helicopters to Syria last night, according to reports.

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Hague keeps options open as Syrian civil war looms

Hague says nothing should be off the table when it comes to stopping violence in Syria

No options should be off the table when it comes to addressing the violence in Syria, according to foreign secretary William Hague.

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Clegg: Syria massacre raises Olympic concerns

Palestinians protest against Bashir in Ramallah last year.

Senior Syrian officials could be denied entrance to Britain for the Olympic Games, after reports emerged of atrocities against children.

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Hague suspicious of Syria peace

Britain's foreign secretary has demanded "indisputable signs of change" from the Syrian regime as the UN prepares to send in monitors.

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Analysis: A revolution is taking place in Syria's Palestinian camps

Palestinian refugees have previously backed the regime - is that about to change?

As the regime of Bashar al-Assad begins to lose its grip in Damascus, an important minority is being overlooked that might yet play a significant political role.

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UK views win-win prospect for Syria diplomacy

A shattered country: The Syrian flag flies after a Damascus protest

Progress could be made against Bashar al-Assad's regime even if it refuses to accept Kofi Annan's six-point plan, UK politicians are hoping.

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Impotent rage? Cameron tells Assad his 'day of reckoning will come'

A Free Syria Army member sits guard during the funeral of a man near Homs this week.

David Cameron noticeably toughened up his rhetoric on Syria today, saying President Bashar al-Assad's "day of reckoning will come".

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Annan: The killing must stop

Former United Nations secretary general and joint UN-Arab League envoy on Syria Kofi Annan says the international community must unite in condemnation of the regime's behaviour

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Hague: We are fully committed to diplomacy in Syria

Foreign secretary William Hague announces that, despite the withdrawal of diplomats from Syria, he is still fully supportive of peace efforts.

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Alexander: I am sickened by the regime's behaviour

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander responds to news of the Assad regime's crackdown in Homs by emphasises that those responsible for crimes must be held accountable.

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