 euronews | Pope calls for an end to US embargo on Cuba euronews On his third and final day in Cuba, Pope Benedict has called for an end to the 50-year-long US trade embargo while urging the communist island to change. Throughout his visit the Pope has made thinly-veiled references to Cuban dissidents, ... Pope Benedict XVI urges religious freedom in Cuba Pope Benedict criticises US trade embargo on Cuba In Cuba, Pope calls for more religious freedom |
 BBC News | US pressures Syria as Arab League meets in Baghdad BBC News The US has increased pressure on Syria to implement a UN-Arab League peace plan, as Arab leaders gather for talks in Baghdad. The plan, brokered by Kofi Annan, calls for a UN-monitored end to the fighting, the pull-out of troops from opposition cities ... US accuses Syria of failing to respect peace plan Diplomatic Moves Increase Pressure on Assad No signs Syria carrying out peace plan |
 Fox News | New security for US troops in Afghanistan to guard against Afghan insider threats Fox News US troops in Afghanistan now have far-reaching new protections against rogue killers among their Afghan allies, including assigned "guardian angels," fellow troops who will watch over them as they sleep. Marine Gen. John Allen, the top US commander in ... APNewsBreak: New security for US troops Support in US for Afghan War Drops Sharply, Poll Finds Western troops take steps to avoid fratricide by Afghans |
 MiamiHerald.com | Pope Benedict calls for 'change' after three days in Cuba MiamiHerald.com By FRANCO ORDONEZ AND DAN CHANG HAVANA -- Just before bidding farewell to Cuba after a three-day visit, Pope Benedict XVI sat down Wednesday with Fidel Castro for a 30-minute private talk that was described as “animated†and “colloquial. Pope Benedict criticises US trade embargo on Cuba Cuban-Americans find hope on return to homeland Pope Benedict Ends Cuba Visit |
 Telegraph.co.uk | APNewsBreak: New security for US troops CBS News WASHINGTON â€" US military commanders in Afghanistan have assigned "guardian angels" â€" troops that watch over their comrades even as they sleep â€" and have ordered a series of other increased security measures to protect troops against possible attacks by ... Western troops take steps to avoid fratricide by Afghan troops |
 Telegraph.co.uk | Pope meets Cuba's Fidel Castro, slams US embargo Reuters By Philip Pullella and Jeff Franks | HAVANA (Reuters) - Pope Benedict called for an end to the US trade embargo against Cuba and met with revolutionary icon Fidel Castro on Wednesday as he ended a trip in which he urged the communist island to change. Pope Benedict XVI ends Cuba visit with prayer that island be “house for all'' Pope Urges Greater Openings in Vast Cuban Mass Pope Benedict XVI ends Latin visit with call for freedoms in Cuba |
 USA TODAY | APNewsBreak: New security for US troops The Associated Press By LOLITA C. BALDOR, AP â€" 9 minutes ago WASHINGTON (AP) â€" US military commanders in Afghanistan have assigned "guardian angels" â€" troops that watch over their comrades even as they sleep â€" and have ordered a series of other increased security measures ... New security for US troops in Afghanistan Western troops take steps to avoid fratricide by Afghans Report of Bomb Plot Puts Afghan Defense Ministry in Lockdown |
 ABC News | "What does a pope do?" Fidel Castro asks Benedict Reuters By Philip Pullella | HAVANA (Reuters) - Pope Benedict and Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, both octogenarians, joked about their age in a brief meeting on Wednesday and then Castro popped the question: so what do you do? Cuban-American in emotional return to family home Pope Benedict meets Fidel Castro after urging Cubans to seek 'authentic freedom' Cuban-Americans come to island with excitement and apprehension, leave with ... |
 Christian Science Monitor | Fidel Castro, excommunicated in 1962, meets with Pope Benedict Christian Science Monitor Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who once outlawed religion, met with Pope Benedict XVI today. Benedict's visit is part of a new Catholic strategy in a changing Cuba. By Sara Miller Llana, Staff writer, Girish Gupta, Correspondent / March 28, ... Pope Benedict XVI visits Mexico and Cuba Pope departs Cuba after Mass urging church freedom Pope calls for end to Cuba's isolation |
 The Associated Press | Arab summit appears divided over approach to Syria The Associated Press By HAMZA HENDAWI, AP â€" 1 minute ago BAGHDAD (AP) â€" Arab leaders gathering here Thursday will call for Syria to implement a cease-fire, but there's little faith that President Bashar Assad will do anything to halt his crackdown on the year-old uprising. US hopes diplomacy can end Syria violence, as Clinton goes to region with ... US Hopes Diplomacy Ends Year Of Violence In Syria US senators file resolution to arm Syria opposition |
 Christian Science Monitor | Arab leaders call on Syria to end violent crackdown Christian Science Monitor Even before Arab heads of state began their Thursday summit in the Iraqi capital, Syria sharply rejected any measures they take. A Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Jihad Makdessi, said Damascus would 'not deal with any initiative' that might come out ... Liberals challenge Islamist grip on Syrian National Council Syrian violence ignores peace diplomacy UN chief urges Syria's Assad to stem continuing violence |
 USA TODAY | US seeks papal intervention in case of detained American In Cuba Washington Post WASHINGTON â€" The Obama administration is asking Pope Benedict XVI to raise with Cuban officials the case of American contractor Alan Gross, jailed on suspicion of espionage. The State Department said Wednesday it made the request to the Vatican and the ... Pope meets Fidel Castro after celebrating Mass in front of hundreds of thousands Pope meets Fidel Castro as papal visit to Cuba wraps up Fidel meets pope; No reform on Cuban agenda |
 Telegraph.co.uk | US Lawmakers Call for 'Hard-Nosed' Approach With Iran Voice of America March 28, 2012 US Lawmakers Call for 'Hard-Nosed' Approach With Iran VOA News Leading US lawmakers are urging the Obama administration to take an even tougher stance with Iran over its nuclear program, questioning whether expanding economic sanctions ... Erdogan: Peaceful nuclear program not grounds for attack Syria tops agenda on Turkish PM's visit to Tehran Iran Nuclear Talks to Resume in April Backed by Erdogan |
 The Guardian | Threat to Assad remains despite Homs victory Financial Times By Roula Khalaf in London Bashar al-Assad is acting victorious, marching under the gaze of state television crews into the ruins of the Baba Amr district of Homs, the city bombarded by his forces for nearly a month. In TV footage this week, ... Syrian violence ignores peace diplomacy Arab ministers call for action on Annan's Syria plan Syria violence raises concerns Assad is only buying time with UN cease-fire deal |
 CBC.ca | Syrian Troops Attack Rebel Strongholds Voice of America March 28, 2012 Syrian Troops Attack Rebel Strongholds VOA News Syrian rights activists say government forces have assaulted several rebel strongholds, as Arab nations made a new diplomatic effort to end Syria's year-long conflict. Iran voices support for UN-sponsored Syria peace plan Fragmented Syria opposition emboldens Assad Arab ministers call for action on Annan's Syria plan |
 Globe and Mail | Pope Benedict XVI enters Revolution Plaza in Havana to celebrate Mass MiamiHerald.com Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass today in Havana's Revolution Plaza. The event is tightly controlled by the Cuban government, which has increased crackdowns on dissidents. BY DANIEL CHANG AND NANCY SAN MARTIN Tens of thousands of Cubans welcomed Pope ... Pope's Cuban Mission Leads Some Exiles in Miami to Soften Stance Pope Benedict XVI to meet Fidel Castro in Cuba: live Pope urges more church freedom in Cuba |
 The Associated Press | Thousands massed in Havana for pope's Mass The Associated Press By NICOLE WINFIELD, AP â€" 1 minute ago HAVANA (AP) â€" Tens of thousands of people have massed in Havana's Revolution Plaza for Pope Benedict XVI's Mass on the final day of his visit to Cuba. Many people are standing under umbrellas to shade themselves ... Pope Benedict XVI visits Mexico and Cuba Troubled history of Cuban Catholics Miami's papal pilgrims seek reconciliation in Cuba |
 Sydney Morning Herald | Arab League Weighs Syria Peace Plan Voice of America March 28, 2012 Arab League Weighs Syria Peace Plan VOA News Arab League foreign ministers are expected to back special envoy Kofi Annan's plan to end the crisis in Syria, a day after President Bashar al-Assad's government accepted the proposal. Olympics-Syrians on sanctions list not welcome at Games-UK 3 Syrian Soldiers Die in Clashes with Rebels Blasts and bullets after Syria accepts peace plan |
 CTV.ca | Al-Assad accepts peace plan, but reports of more violence emerge CNN By the CNN Wire Staff (CNN) -- A day after news broke that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accepted a plan to forge peace, fresh clashes broke out once again across Syria on Wednesday, opposition activists said. Three members of the Syrian security ... Blasts and bullets after Syria accepts peace plan Fresh violence after Syria accepts UN peace plan Syria forces 'storm rebel town despite peace pledge' |
 The Associated Press | 3 Syrian soldiers die in clashes with rebels The Associated Press By BEN HUBBARD, AP â€" 2 minutes ago BEIRUT (AP) â€" Three Syrian soldiers died in clashes with rebels in the central province of Homs on Wednesday, an activist group said, just a day after President Bashar Assad said he has accepted a UN plan to resolve ... Al-Assad accepts peace plan, but reports of more violence emerge Assad Accepts Cease-Fire; Opponents Are Skeptical Blasts and bullets after Syria accepts peace plan |
 Telegraph.co.uk | Pope to Meet with Founder of Communist Cuba Voice of America March 28, 2012 Pope to Meet with Founder of Communist Cuba VOA News Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro says he will meet Wednesday with Pope Benedict in Havana, before the pontiff ends his three-day visit to the communist-ruled island. Pope's Cuba tour to end with Castro Pope to hold Havana public mass Fidel Castro asks for 'modest and simple' meeting with pope |
 BBC News | Opposition unite behind Syrian National Council BBC News All but one of Syria's disparate opposition groups have agreed to unite behind the Syrian National Council. A statement issued after a two-day meeting in Istanbul said the SNC would be the "formal interlocutor and formal representative of the Syrian ... Assad Accepts Cease-Fire; Opponents Are Skeptical Syrian forces targeting children, says UN's human rights chief 3 Syrian Soldiers Die in Clashes With Rebels |
 New York Times | Assad Accepts Cease-Fire; Opponents Are Skeptical New York Times AL QAA, Lebanon â€" Seeking to project an image of responsibility and reason, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria formally accepted a United Nations envoy's cease-fire proposal on Tuesday and conducted a televised walking tour through the shell-shocked ... 3 Syrian Soldiers Die in Clashes With Rebels Erdogan Says Assad Won't Reform, Presses Russia, Hurriyet Says |
 BBC News | Syria violence: UN's Pillay speaks out on Assad culpability BBC News As the UN comes under increasing pressure to stop the violence in Syria, the organisation's rights chief Navi Pillay tells the BBC's Fergal Keane that she believes there is enough evidence to bring charges against the country's leader. Rebel groups agree to unite behind Syrian National Council Calls for Syrian deal to be matched with action Syria peace plan : Assad will be “judged on his actions†|
