middle-east
Kurdish forces say Turkey violating cease-fire in NE Syria
Beirut, Oct 19 (AP/UNB) — Syrian Kurdish forces say Turkey is failing to abide by terms of a U.S.-brokered cease-fire, refusing to lift a siege it imposed on a key border town in northeastern Syria 30 hours after the truce went into effect.
Erdogan says Turkey won't forget Trump letter
Ankara, Oct 18 (AP/UNB)— Turkey's president says his country "cannot forget" the harshly worded letter from U.S. President Donald Trump about the Turkish military offensive into Syria. But he says the mutual "love and respect" between the two leaders prevents him from keeping it on Turkey's agenda.
Trump hails Syria cease-fire after he played role in crisis
Ankara, Oct 18 (AP/UNB) — President Donald Trump framed the U.S.-brokered cease-fire deal with Turkey as "a great day for civilization," but its effect was largely to mitigate a foreign policy crisis widely seen to be of his own making.
Reports of fighting despite Syria cease-fire
Ankara, Oct 18 (AP/UNB) — Activists and a Syria war monitor says the Kurdish-led force and Turkey-backed fighters are clashing on the outskirts of Ras al-Ayn, a town along the border that is part of a cease-fire agreement.
Assad blasts Turkish offensive into Syria
Beirut, Oct 17 (AP/UNB) — Syrian President Bashar Assad has blasted Turkey's "criminal aggression" in Syria, vowing that Damascus will respond to the offensive.
Iraqi blogger outspoken about country's corruption detained
Baghdad, Oct 17 (AP/UNB) — A family member of a popular Iraqi blogger says authorities have detained him, apparently over his coverage of anti-government protests.
Pence meets with Erdogan, seeking Syria border cease-fire
Ankara, Oct 17 (AP/UNB) — A senior U.S. delegation led by Vice President Mike Pence pursued an uphill mission Thursday to persuade Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call for a cease-fire in his fight with Kurdish forces in northern Syria.
FM says sanctions, threats won't affect Turkey
Akcakale, Oct 16 (AP/UNB) — Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Turkey won't be affected by "sanctions and threats" against Turkey over its military incursion into northeast Syria.
Brother of Iran's president begins prison term
Tehran, Oct 16 (AP/UNB) — Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency is reporting that President Hassan Rouhani's brother has begun serving a five-year prison sentence on corruption charges.
Turkey: Patriotic sentiment on display amid Syria operation
Akcakale, Oct 16 (AP/UNB) — National soccer team players give military salutes during international matches, Turkish flags flutter from balconies and storefronts, songs extolling the glory days of the Ottoman Empire blare from a border town's loudspeakers, punctuated by the occasional boom of outgoing artillery.