Syrian opposition activists gathered in Damascus in March, joining a wave of uprisings against autocratic rulers in other Arab nations. Protesters called for the release of political prisoners and greater freedoms in the authoritarian state, led by President Bashar al-Assad.
President al-Assad announced reform measures, including the creation of a committee to study the possibility of lifting the country's emergency law. He also appointed a former agriculture minister as the country's new prime minister and asked him to form a government.
Despite the government's crackdown on demonstrations, protests continue in Syria.
Erdogan told crowd of cheering Libyans that they set an example by ending 40-year rule of Moammar Gadhafi
Witnesses say security forces are conducting raids, firing on protesters outside mosques
UN Secretary-General accused Bashar al-Assad of 'escalating violence and repression'
US welcomes formation of an umbrella group of Syrian opposition figures - self-proclaimed Syrian National Council
They believe Syrian government is intimidating their relatives in Syria to discourage their activism in United States
Rights activists report heavy machine-gun fire, roadblocks, arrests as government rejects Arab League demands
Foreign ministers say current situation is critical and President Bashar al-Assad must stop 'killing machine'
Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he fears crisis engulfing Turkey's southern neighbor will end in conflict between Alawites and Sunnis
Opposition angry about Dmitry Medvedev's unwillingness to back additional sanctions against country
VOA asks Syrians supportive of their president to make a case for his regime
Russia rejects any additional sanctions against Syria for government crackdown on opposition
Syria counters United Nations figures, putting death toll at 1,400
Nabil Elaraby expected to convey concerns over Syrian government's crackdown on protests
Crackdown continues as activists appealed for 'international protection'
Military operation takes place same day Russia offered to mediate talks that could allow President Bashar al-Assad to remain in power
Ban Ki-moon says he has urged President Bashar al-Assad to carry out political reforms 'before it is too late'
French Chargé d’Affaires Martin Briens says questions about nature of Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain top concern
Meanwhile, French foreign minister accuses Damascus of committing 'crimes against humanity'
Former Ambassador Edward Djerejian says US, other countries need to be engaged in region to bring about peaceful changes
Diplomats are considering measures targeting companies that are linked to repression of civilians in Syria
Deal one of several struck by organization's President Jakob Kellenberger during two-day visit to country
ICRC chief raises concerns about violent military crackdown during meeting with President Bashar al-Assad
![Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (L) meets Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC], in Damascus, Syria, September 5, 2011.](https://web.archive.org/web/20110917104950im_/http://media.voanews.com/images/75*50/reuters_syria_red_cross_kellenberger_300_05sept2011.jpg "Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (L) meets Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC], in Damascus, Syria, September 5, 2011.")
Also, activists say Syrian forces killed at least 14 people in raids Sunday across country in ongoing crackdown on dissent
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby said Syria agreed to host him for a visit, likely this week
At least three people killed; opposition sources say that scores of people were arrested in security operations in many towns, cities
Protest organizers and policy analysts agree that demonstrators in Syria should maintain the course of non-violent resistance
Activists say deaths occurred in areas including flashpoint central province of Homs
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the world community should escalate pressure by targeting Syria's oil and gas exports
British foreign secretary says EU officials meeting in Poland this week could ban sale of Syrian oil in member countries
Trading partners in Europe, elsewhere forgo business dealings with Assad regime, and tourists steer clear of violent conflict
Adnan Bakkour says he is stepping down because security forces killed more than 400 others during a siege of the city in August
Activists say security forces merged from buses parked on city's outskirts, entered on foot, searching for those involved in uprising
Obama administration expands sanctions against Assad regime to include 'principal defenders of regime activities'
Forces open fire on protesters on first day of Muslim holiday that marks end of Ramadan
Analysts say if Ankara sides with dissidents, Tehran will see loss of Syrian regime as blow directed at Iran
Arab and international press have accused both Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, of helping Syrian authorities militarily
Human rights groups say at least five people killed Monday during security-force siege of town of Sarameen in Homs province
Damascus responds with protest note accusing bloc of violating diplomatic protocol and saying it regards statement as ‘non-existent’
Comments by Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi are first such remarks from Iran since five-month-old uprising began
Syrian activists say forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad clashed with anti-government protesters in Damascus, other cities
Activists say security forces targeted protesters in Damascus, coastal city of Latakia
Protesters had massed once again to call for President Bashar al-Assad's resignation, at least three people killed
Could victory by Libyan revolutionaries encourage Syrians to rethink revolution?
Former US vice president's memoir says he advised George W. Bush to take military action against suspected Syrian nuclear reactor
European Union cites elite unit's role in helping Syrian security forces squash resistance
UN says at least 2,200 people have died in Syria during the government's five-month crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators
Council overwhelmingly adopts resolution condemning Syria for grave, systematic human-rights violations
Resolution comes a day after eye witness reports that security forces targeted anti-government protesters who taunted President Assad
Council's session follows a request from 24 of its members, including all four Arab nations on the council - Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar
Bashar al-Assad gives lengthy interview on state-run television
Security forces kill at least two people in the central province of Homs
Rights groups, activists say at least 1,800 civilians have been killed since start of government's crackdown in March
President Bashar al-Assad has not publicly responded to Western calls for his departure
Proposed move at UN follows actions earlier Thursday by US and Europe calling for President Assad to step down
US President Obama also issued executive order announcing 'unprecedented sanctions' on Syria
Eyewitnesses on ground inside country say government forces continued arrests, crackdowns in last 24 hours
Investigators recommend UN Security Council refer Syria to International Criminal Court for prosecution
Syrian refugees flee to Turkey, Lebanon; some say they will stay there until Syrian regime falls
Despite Obama's call on Syrian leader to resign, experts agree he will likely tighten grip to avoid same fate as fellow Arab leaders
Officials say coordinated actions were culmination of months of steadily increased pressure on President Bashar al-Assad
US and its key European allies make a coordinated call on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down
Ban Ki-moon says he is alarmed by report of excessive use of force against citizens by Assad government's security forces
Activists say Syrian forces have detained dozens, put hundreds on buses to transport to a sports stadium
Activists, residents say at least five killed Tuesday in Latakia, 35 killed since Saturday
US pressing countries to cut financial ties with Syria
Rights activists in port of Latakia say at least 27 have been killed in new raids that also targeted Houla
Activists, witnesses say military vessels mounted with machine guns began firing on coastal districts Sunday
Security forces stormed into coastal city of Latakia, Qusair region near Lebanese border
US secretary of state has not explicitly called on Syrian president to step down
Reports from Syria say at least 19 people killed as government troops fire on anti-government protesters in a half-dozen cities
US tries to increase diplomatic, economic pressure on Syrian leadership
Activists and witnesses say deaths occurred in Qusair, after government forces opened fire
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European members of council urge Syria to end crackdown on pro-democracy protesters
Syrian forces continue crackdown in spite of mounting international pressure
Rights groups say at least one civilian was killed, three wounded after tanks move into northwestern villages near Turkish border
Turkey and other countries are appealing for Syria to stop its violent crackdown on political dissidents
Appointment of General Dawoud Rajha as new defense minister is most significant change to Syrian government since protests began
Unlike its counterparts during similar unrest in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria's military has given few signs of breaking with the ruling elite
Recall part of mounting international pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop using deadly force against protesters
Pres. Assad defends his violent crackdown, saying it is 'national duty' to deal with 'outlaws' who cut off roads and 'terrorize' people
Meanwhile, Syria's foreign minister promises general elections by the end of the year
Meanwhile, activists say at least 26 more people were killed in government's crackdown on opposition protesters
Tens of thousands of Syrians have rallied against government as security forces intensify crackdown on first Friday of Ramadan
Meeting her Canadian counterpart, US secretary of state appeals for a 'louder, more effective' international response to violence
Experts and activists offer views on the prospects for the Syrian regime’s survival in the wake of unrelenting anti-government protests
Russian President says Assad faces 'sad fate' if he fails to introduce promised reforms in response to four-month-old uprising
President says he will allow multi-party political system, a day after UN Security Council condemned crackdown on protests
UN’s most powerful body expresses 'grave concern' at deteriorating situation in Syria
Security Council set to resume debate on draft resolution condemning violence in Syria
Activists said some of the attacks Monday came as people protested following evening prayers on first day of holy month of Ramadan
Security Council has been deeply divided on how to respond to violence in Syria since it began four and a half months ago
Syrians outside of Syria are finding ways to help support pro-democracy movement in their country
US measures could target Syria’s vital energy sector
Residents in Hama say tanks resumed intense shelling of city late Monday
President Obama says he is 'appalled' by the use of violence and vows to increase pressure on Bashar al-Assad
Medical officials say hospitals are overrun with scores of wounded people, and death toll is likely to rise
Security forces have deadly clash with rock-throwing residents near eastern town of Deir el-Zour
Rights groups and witnesses say deaths occurred in seaside town of Latakia
Live ammunition, tear gas used on anti-government protesters
Avaaz organization announces findings, starts campaign to pressure Syria to allow international delegation to probe disappearances
Activists say troops also arrested at least 250 people during raid in town of Kanaker
State Department says actions of Syria's security forces are 'reprehensible,' and include 'barbaric shootings'
State news agency says the bill stipulates that parties cannot be based on a religious, tribal or regional basis
Rights groups say army troops set roadblocks and deployed in front of mosques, and arrested scores of people in Damascus
SANA news agency quotes Interior Ministry official as saying 'criminals' ripped up section of tracks, causing derailment, fire
Tens of thousands rally, renewing calls for president al-Assad's resignation; at least six killed
Human rights activists say tanks moved to block off neighborhoods as government forces conducted raids, made arrests
Order comes after ambassadors angered government by visiting flashpoint city of Hama this month
Rights activists accuse Syrian government of trying to provoke sectarian conflict in Homs to weaken a four-month opposition uprising
Activists say fighting began late Saturday when dismembered bodies of three government supporters were returned to relatives in Homs
Extra security forces arrived after military intelligence agents killed five protesters in the border town of al-Boukamal
About 350 Syrian dissidents gather in Istanbul for 'National Salvation Conference'
Former US ambassador to Syria says Washington worries about who would step in if Bashar al-Assad were to fall
Tens of thousands march Friday demanding release of people jailed during uprising, calling for an end to regime of President al-Assad
Shooting in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour comes a day after security forces killed four people in the Jabal al-Zawiya region
Analysts say it will likely be difficult for either talks or international pressure to end Syrian crisis anytime soon
Hearing comes a day after Syrian soldiers stood by and did nothing as pro-government mobs stormed US and French embassies in Damascus
News reports say Nabil Elaraby also discussed Libya's unrest, Palestinian cause with Assad
Council calls on Syrian authorities to protect diplomatic property and personnel
US secretary of state says Syrian leader has 'lost legitimacy,' and should not see himself as indispensable to country’s future
They accuse Damascus of organizing angry demonstrations outside their missions in Syria
Reports say crowd at the US embassy breached the perimeter wall and damaged at least one building in the compound
Overture by Farouk al-Sharaa comes in response to months of opposition protests against autocratic rule of President Bashar al-Assad
Human Rights Watch says that incidents involving use of live ammunition on demonstrators were described by 8 soldiers
Protesters fill streets of volatile Syrian city as two senior foreign envoys visited in show of solidarity
State Department calls Syria’s charge that Robert Ford tried to incite violence 'absolute rubbish'
Hama has been a focal point of Syria's political unrest, with the situation escalating this week as tanks surround the city
Hama considered important symbol of resistance against Assad regime; at least 25 killed, more than 40 wounded
Rights activists say Syrian security forces opened fire on civilians, killing 22, wounding at least 50 people in Hama
Rights groups say Syrian security forces have killed at least 1,300 civilians since mid-March
Victims shot and wounded in raids on several villages in latest crackdown on opposition uprising
In the deadliest attack, five officers have been killed in a drive-by shooting on a police checkpoint near the desert town of Rutba
Tens of thousands took to the streets the day before to call for the president's ouster
Tens of thousands take to the streets nationwide against President Bashar al-Assad.
US secretary of state says government must make genuine reforms or face increased resistance
