Jul 4th, 2005 · In Syria, a group of activists called the Al Atasi Forum used to meet each month to discuss politics, among other issues. But officials have arrested the leaders and stopped the meetings.
Jun 15th, 2005 · More than half a million Iraqis have fled to neighboring Syria to escape the war-related violence in Iraq. Neither Syria's government nor the United Nations consider them to be refugees. And the Damascus government has begun ordering some of the Iraqis to leave.
Jun 13th, 2005 · An important change in Syrian law may clear the nation's roads of classic cars. After decades of paying prohibitive import duties on new cars, Syrians will finally have access to newer, cheaper autos thanks to a government decision to cut tariffs. Many cars in Syria are decades old, lovingly maintained antiques.
Jun 6th, 2005 · Syria's ruling Baath Party holds a congress where President Bashar al-Assad tells delegates that the priorities facing the country were the economy and fighting corruption. He also told members not to be influenced by international pressures for reform.
Jun 6th, 2005 · Robert Siegel talks with Middle East analyst Flynt Leverett, who's in Damascus while Syria's Baath Party holds its first meeting in five years. Leverett is author of the new book Inheriting Syria: Bashar's Trial By Fire and is a senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.
Mar 31st, 2005 · Flynt Leverett is a senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. A veteran expert on Middle East policy -- from the National Security Council to the CIA, Leverett has also written a book, Inheriting Syria: Bashar’s Trial By Fire, about Bashar al-Assad's rule of Syria.
Mar 24th, 2005 · NPR's Ivan Watson reports on people in Lebanon who are cashing in on that nation's recent political turmoil. Lebanese flag makers and shopkeepers say flag sales have skyrocketed since hundreds of thousands of Lebanese started demonstrating in the streets to protest Syria's involvement in their nation.
Mar 5th, 2005 · Recent anti-Syria protesters in Lebanon include some of the authors featured in an anthology called Transit: Beirut. Their highly personal, often experimental work offers glimpses of a different side of the city.