Syria on Thursday signed a preliminary accord outlining a protocol for a UN mission to monitor a fragile week-old ceasefire in the strife-torn country, the two sides announced.

Deputy Foreign Ministe

Peace envoy Kofi Annan said a ceasefire in Syria appeared to be holding on its first day on Thursday, as the Syrian government and its foes traded charges of trying to wreck his peace plan.

Yet Annan

A ceasefire in Syria came into effect at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) in line with an ultimatum set by UN/Arab League envoy Kofi Annan aimed at ending violence that has killed thousands over 13 months.

The Syr

Key dates in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, where monitors say violence has killed more than 10,000 people and more than 100,000 have been detained over the past yea

The head of the opposition Syrian National Council on Thursday urged people to demonstrate against the President Bashar al-Assad's regime, in a test of a ceasefire that entered in to force at dawn.

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A peace plan for Syria was in jeopardy on Monday as fresh clashes raged after President Bashar al-Assad's government laid down conditions for it to pull troops and armour out of protest hubs.

Under a

Rebels seeking to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will be paid salaries, the country’s opposition council has announced.

The Syrian National Council said money would also be given to soldiers

Fighting between Syrian security forces and rebels killed at least 13 people on Thursday as Arab leaders gathered at a summit in Baghdad to press Damascus for rapid implementation of a peace plan that

Special envoy Kofi Annan is to return to Syria 'very soon,' UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday, as the UN Security Council aimed to close ranks on a statement to bolster his mission.

Ban's announ

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s wife Asma could face a two-year prison sentence for spending tens of thousands of pounds on lavish accessories, as her online shopping sprees may have broken financi