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Melissa Block talks with Syria's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Faisal Mekdad, about the upcoming international conference on Syria in Geneva and about the Syrian government's view of the civil war. Mekdad says the government of President Bashar al-Assad believes a peaceful settlement is necessary to solve the conflict in Syria. However, Mekdad says the replacement of President Assad "means destruction of Syria, means no international conference, and means support of terrorism." Mekdad says Syria will not participate in the conference with any preconditions.
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The U.S. says it will consider arming the rebels if it can confirm Bashar Assad's regime used the nerve gas sarin in recent attacks. But there's a danger that any weapons the U.S. provides could fall into the wrong hands.
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The defense secretary said the U.S. has to be "very careful" before drawing conclusions about Syria. The U.S. has said the use of chemical weapons is a "red line" in the conflict.
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A director spent a year filming the Alawite community in the Syrian coastal city of Tartous, where many believe President Bashar Assad is the only man who can save them from the mostly Sunni Muslims leading the country's rebellion.
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The United States has declared the use of chemical weapons is a "red line" in the conflict. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said their se is a "crime against humanity."
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Secretary of State John Kerry is wrapping up his first official overseas trip to Europe and the Middle East. He's shifted U.S. policy on Syria, offering direct assistance to the opposition coalition and non-lethal aid to fighters. He's also offered Egypt's Islamist government $190 million to avert a budget crisis and he's warning Iran that talks can't go on indefinitely.
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The comments were made in an interview with Britain's Sunday Times. The Syrian leader's remarks come less than a week after the U.S. announced more direct aid to rebels battling Bashar Assad's regime.
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Syrian President Bashar Assad gave a defiant speech Sunday, giving little hope for an ease in the violence that has left more than 60,000 dead. Host Rachel Martin talks with Andrew Tabler of the Washington Institute for analysis.
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The president outlined a plan that includes a new constitution, but said it could only take place once other countries stop funding the opposition. He maintained his assertions that the violence is fueled by terrorists and gave no hint he would step down.
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Fighting has raged in Syria since March 2011. The U.N. estimates that more than 60,000 people have died. The effect on children is heart-breaking. Some can't draw pictures of people without showing blood coming out of them.