tag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Obama_face_Syria_scrutiny_Jordan_c217

A day after challenging Israelis to embrace peace with Palestinians, US President Barack Obama Friday will face scrutiny over his strategy on Syria during an overnight stay in Jordan.

2013-03-22T09:19:08ZAFP Global Editionby Stephen Collinsontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Palestinians_invoke_civil_rights_Obama_7c9c

Palestinians sour at Barack Obama's perceived failure to honour their historical struggle have invoked the US civil rights movement and South Africa's apartheid in a bid to win his sympathy.

2013-03-22T08:49:09ZAFP Global Editionby Selim Saheb Ettabatag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Obama_direct_peace_appeal_young_8b56

In a powerful direct appeal to Israelis, President Barack Obama insisted that a two-state peace with the Palestinians could still be forged and is their only hope of true security.

2013-03-22T01:04:50ZAFP Global Editionby Stephen Collinsontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/indication_Syria_rebels_used_chemical_e265

The United States has found no evidence to support a Syrian government allegation that opposition rebels used chemical weapons in an attack this week, a US official said Thursday.

2013-03-21T22:34:04ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Gaza_hardline_Islamists_claim_rocket_9948

A hardline Islamist group claimed a rocket attack against southern Israel on Thursday, in a statement that condemned a historic visit by US President Barack Obama to the region.

2013-03-21T21:36:50ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Obama_direct_appeal_young_Israelis_ce86

In a powerful direct appeal to Israelis, President Barack Obama Thursday insisted a two-state peace with the Palestinians could still be forged and was their only hope of true security.

2013-03-21T21:16:53ZAFP Global Editionby Stephen Collinsontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Abbas_welcomes_Obama_peace_speech_cf8f

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday welcomed a speech to young Israelis in which US President Barack Obama appealed for a two-state peace with the Palestinians, a senior Palestinian official said.

2013-03-21T20:30:57ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Jailed_Kurdish_rebel_leader_calls_f411

Jailed Kurdish rebel chief Abdullah Ocalan called Thursday for a new ceasefire, telling his fighters to lay down their arms and withdraw from Turkish soil, raising hopes for an end to a three-decade conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives.

2013-03-21T20:18:57ZAFP Global Editionby Nicolas Chevirontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/welcomes_Kurdish_rebels_ceasefire_call_0d08

The United States on Thursday welcomed a call from the jailed rebel leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) urging his fighters to lay down their arms, saying it was a "positive step."

2013-03-21T18:38:49ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Jailed_Kurdish_rebel_leader_calls_5bf9

Jailed Kurdish rebel chief Abdullah Ocalan called Thursday for a new ceasefire, telling his fighters to lay down their arms and withdraw from Turkish soil, raising hopes for an end to a three-decade conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives.

2013-03-21T18:27:13ZAFP Global Editionby Nicolas Chevirontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/launch_Syria_chemical_weapons_inquiry_ce18

The United Nations will investigate whether chemical weapons have been used in the Syria conflict, UN leader Ban Ki-Moon announced Thursday.

2013-03-21T18:26:32ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Iran_leader_hints_first_direct_0b85

Iran's supreme leader on Thursday signalled openness for the first time to US offers to hold direct talks on his country's disputed nuclear drive, but voiced pessimism over the chances of a breakthrough.

2013-03-21T17:25:58ZAFP Global Editionby Mohammad Davaritag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Moodys_cuts_Egypt_bond_rating_5ff7

Credit ratings agency Moody's said on Thursday it has downgraded Egypt's government bond ratings by one notch to Caa1 from B3, saying political instability had "significantly weakened" the economy.

2013-03-21T16:15:57ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Obama_says_Assad_must_Syrias_3b80

US President Barack Obama used a major speech in Israel on Thursday to issue a new call on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down so his country's "future can begin."

2013-03-21T15:12:05ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Iran_will_annihilate_cities_Israel_e218

Iran will "annihilate" the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if it comes under attack by the Jewish state, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Thursday.

2013-03-21T15:09:35ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Obama_tells_Abbas_Two-state_solution_279d

US President Barack Obama insisted on Thursday a two-state solution was still viable, but disappointed his Palestinian hosts by failing to take a clear stance on freezing settlement activity.

2013-03-21T14:40:48ZAFP Global Editionby Stephen Collinsontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Egypts_Muslim_Brotherhood_defend_f80b

Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood warned on Thursday that it will defend its headquarters, as opposition activists planned a march on the building where they have previously clashed with the Islamists.

2013-03-21T14:12:29ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Abbas_tells_Obama_talks_without_da67

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday told US President Barack Obama there could be no talks with Israel without a freeze on settlement construction.

2013-03-21T14:03:37ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Gaza_rockets_hit_south_Israel_8d5d

Two rockets fired by militants in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Thursday hit southern Israel, police said, sparking a top-level condemnation from visiting US President Barack Obama.

2013-03-21T13:59:53ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Iran_will_wipe_cities_Israel_f693

Iran will "annihilate" the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if it comes under attack by the Jewish state, the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Thursday.

2013-03-21T13:48:29ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reporter