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Syria is losing the information war against the West, President Bashar al-Assad has admitted, as violence continued across the country.
Mr Assad also said the results of last week's elections proved Syrians supported his cabinet's reforms. Separately, Damascus refused to provide a report on torture claims as requested by a United Nations committee. The Syrian government has complained that UN human rights experts have failed to investigate alleged abuses by opposition forces.
But despite Syria's lack of co-operation, the UN committee in Switzerland is continuing its review of the situation in Syria since the unrest began 15 months ago. The committee has already heard evidence of the torture of detainees, including children, and claims that hospital patients have been violently abused by the Syrian security services. The findings are expected to be presented on Friday. In another development, UN observers who came under fire on Tuesday have been rescued after spending the night with fighters from the rebel Free Syrian Army. UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said other UN personnel had picked up the six-strong monitoring team from the northern town of Khan Sheikhoun on Wednesday and taken them to their team site in Hama. None of the observers was injured in Tuesday's violence in Khan Sheikhoun, which activists said left at least 20 people dead. The 212 unarmed military observers and 68 civilian staff working for the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) are monitoring the implementation of a peace plan brokered by UN-African Union envoy Kofi Annan. A ceasefire was supposed to come into effect on 12 April, but there have been widespread violations by both sides, according to the UN.
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In Greece‚ a senior judge Panagiotis Pikrammenos has been sworn in as the caretaker Prime Minister.
His appointment came after political parties failed to form a coalition government.
Fresh elections in the country would be held on the 17th of next month.
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US Senate to consider new Iran sanctions.
US Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid will ask the chamber to approve a new package of oil and economic sanctions on Thursday aimed at further pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear program, a Democratic leadership aide. The politically popular sanctions are focused on foreign banks that handle transactions for Iran’s national oil and tanker companies, and include measures to close loopholes in existing sanctions. The tougher package has secured support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful pro-Israel lobby group, the Democratic aide said. A senior Republican congressional aide said the bill is expected to pass. “AIPAC has signed off on this and is strongly supporting it and is urging Republicans to do the same,” the Democratic leadership aide said. The United States says Iran’s nuclear program is a cover for developing the capability to build atomic bombs. Iran says it is for civilian purposes. The proposed sanctions build on penalties signed into law by President Barack Obama in December that have made it difficult for Tehran, the world’s third-largest petroleum exporter, to sell its oil, in a bid to cut the flow of revenues suspected of supporting the nuclear program. The move comes ahead of negotiations beginning next week in Baghdad between Iran and six world powers about Tehran’s nuclear program.
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Blind activist Chen Guangcheng said China had agreed to issue him a passport within 15 days.
Chen further said he will then be allowed to go to the United States with his family. It was the first indication of when the 40-year-old legal campaigner would be allowed to leave China since he left the US embassy more than two weeks ago, after seeking refuge there following his escape from house arrest. Speaking to AFP by telephone from the hospital where he is being treated, Chen also said authorities had promised to investigate murder charges brought against his nephew, which he has said are motivated by revenge for his escape. The meeting was the first between the activist and government officials since May 7, when they told Chen they were processing papers for him to leave to the United States where he has been offered fellowships to study law. Chen won plaudits for exposing rights abuses including forced sterilisations and late-term abortions under China s "one-child" family planning policy. His activism earned him a four-year prison sentence that ended in 2010 when he was placed under extra-legal house arrest in his home village of Dongshigu, in the eastern province of Shandong, where he languished until his escape. His dramatic flight came just days before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Beijing for pre-arranged talks, and made headlines around the world, causing major embarrassment for the Chinese government.
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Australia pledges $300m for NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Australia will contribute $100 million annually for three years beginning in 2015 toward the $4 billion a year cost of running the Afghan National Security Forces after they take responsibility for their country s security. Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Defense Minister Stephen Smith said in a statement Wednesday they will take this commitment to the NATO and U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force summit in Chicago. This follows Australia s commitment to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund of $200 million over five years beginning in 2009-10. Afghanistan will have responsibility for its own security by the end of 2014. Gillard said she spoke by telephone to President Barack Obama late Tuesday about the size of the Australian financial contribution to the costs of the Afghan forces. The White House said Obama had "expressed appreciation for Australia s significant contributions" in Afghanistan during his phone conversation with Gillard. Australia has 1,550 troops in Afghanistan and is the largest military contributor to the campaign outside NATO. Australia also contributes the third largest number of Special Forces elite troops. Wednesday s statement said Australia will consider an ongoing Special Forces presence in Afghanistan, if requested, after the Afghans take control. The Australian statement said the government will maintain a substantial development assistance program in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to help provide services such as education and health.
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