World briefs: 2/8/12
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DAMASCUS, Syria -- Russia's top diplomat said Tuesday that a Syrian commission has prepared a new constitution, to be voted on in a referendum, and added that President Bashar al-Assad is ready for a "dialogue" with opposition groups after months of a harsh and bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters.
Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov made the statements following discussions with Mr. Assad in the Syrian capital, even as France and Italy recalled their ambassadors for consultations over the worsening crisis. Shelling continued for a fifth day in the restive city of Homs.
Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council -- which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar -- announced they were also recalling their ambassadors, and were expelling Syria's diplomatic envoys from their countries, wire services reported.
Past promises by Mr. Assad to talk with opposition groups have gone nowhere.
WASHINGTON --With $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid and a three-decade relationship hanging in the balance, U.S. officials said Tuesday that Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would travel to Egypt to press for the criminal charges against at least 16 American nonprofit workers to be dropped.
Officials said Gen. Dempsey would reinforce the message -- echoing lawmakers on Capitol Hill -- that unless Egypt scuttled its plan to try the American nonprofit workers on charges that their agencies illegally received foreign funds, the country seriously risked losing U.S. military aid.
ATHENS, Greece -- Greece's private creditors signaled progress late Tuesday on a debt-relief deal, but crucial talks between Greek coalition leaders about forcing more austerity upon a hostile public were again postponed.
First Published February 8, 2012 12:00 am
