Removing Assad

France no longer sees the departure of President Bashar al-Assad as a priority in the Syrian conflict, President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday, making the policy official for the first time.The new French leader said instead that fighting jihadists such as the Islamic State group had to be the international community's number one goal in a conflict...

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Turkey would fight against Islamic State and other "terrorist" groups in the region but said it would stick to its aim of seeing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad removed from power.

The head of the mission charged with destroying Syria's chemical weapons called on President Bashar Assad's government and countries with influence on the warring parties Wednesday to ensure the immediate removal of the last containers of dangerous chemicals from the country.

Having seen its star wane in Iraq, Al Qaeda has staged a comeback in neighbouring Syria, posing a dilemma for the opposition fighting to remove President Bashar al-Assad and making the West balk at military backing for the revolt.

France no longer sees the departure of President Bashar al-Assad as a priority in the Syrian conflict, President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday, making the policy official for the first time.The new French leader said instead that fighting jihadists such as the Islamic State group had to be the international community's number one goal in a conflict...

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Turkey would fight against Islamic State and other "terrorist" groups in the region but said it would stick to its aim of seeing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad removed from power.

The head of the mission charged with destroying Syria's chemical weapons called on President Bashar Assad's government and countries with influence on the warring parties Wednesday to ensure the immediate removal of the last containers of dangerous chemicals from the country.

Having seen its star wane in Iraq, Al Qaeda has staged a comeback in neighbouring Syria, posing a dilemma for the opposition fighting to remove President Bashar al-Assad and making the West balk at military backing for the revolt.