UN Sees No Prospect Of Syria Violence End -- Al Jazeera
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the only way to stop the violence is a political settlement.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that there is no prospect of an end to the 21-month conflict in Syria.
Ban told a year-end news conference on Wednesday that the only way to stop the violence was a political settlement, urging the deeply divided UN Security Council to unite and "give a very strong political direction" to the opposing sides.
"Syria began the year in conflict, and ends the year in war," Ban said. "Day by day, the death toll has climbed. Month by month, the regional spillover has grown."
Read more ....
MIDDLE EAST
Syrian rebels fight for strategic town in Hama province.
Putin: Assad fate not main concern.
U.N. warns of foreign influx into sectarian Syria war.
New rebel Islamist groups shun Free Syrian Army, UN says.
Troops gone, U.S. increasingly sidelined in Iraq.
Reports of Israeli drones operating in Azerbaijan spark Iranian condemnation, threats.
Israel moves to further seal off Jerusalem from West Bank.
ASIA
Park promises 'new era' for Korean peninsula. Incoming South Korean President highlights danger from North. South Korea's Park stresses 'grave' North Korea challenge.
Pakistan reports 9th death in polio team attacks.
Japan's Abe voices security concerns.
In China's shadow, ASEAN leaders look to India for maritime security.
Almost 1,000 doomsday cult members arrested in China.
AFRICA
Egypt opposition vows to fight on against Islamist charter.
In Egypt and Tunisia, Salafis move from prisons to parliaments.
Sudan rebels say shoot down warplane; army blames malfunction.
Abdel Fattah Younes case: Libya tribunal quits in Jalil row.
New probe into Winnie Mandela-linked pair.
Rwandan ex-minister jailed for genocide.
EUROPE
Czech defense minister fired after one week in post.
French colonization of Algeria "brutal": Hollande. “Non” to a full apology by French president.
Putin backs tough response to U.S. rights law.
Three suspected militants killed in Ingushetia.
Berlusconi warns Monti not to stand in Italy election.
AMERICAS
Obama, Boehner return to verbal fisticuffs on fiscal cliff.
Kerry: Mistakes made at State in Libya assault.
US grows faster in third quarter.
Crime crackdown created more drug cartels: top Mexican official.
The astonishing arsenal of guns handed in by people living in America's deadliest city - just hours after Sandy Hook massacre.
Latin Americans rank as happiest people on planet.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Report: Al Qaeda emir's hand in Egypt and Syria.
Imprisonment without trial is back.
Syria's Al Qaeda grows more powerful.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Chinese companies head for the exit.
Google given EU anti-trust deadline.
Australia regulator backs Qantas-Emirates deal.