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July 3, 2013

Activists Say Dozens Killed in Syria; U.S., Russia Remain Apart on Peace Conference 
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The Syrian government is continuing an offensive to retake
rebel-controlled areas. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights says 40 civilians and 70 fighters on both sides of the conflict
were killed in violence on Tuesday. The regime of Bashar al-Assad has
dropped leaflets over the northern province of Idlib urging rebels to
abandon their fight. Speaking in Brunei, Secretary of State John Kerry
said the U.S. and Russia remain apart on key issues but agree on the
need for a Syria peace conference "sooner rather than later."

Secretary of State John Kerry: "We narrowed down some of the options
with respect to the potential of that conference. We both agreed that
that conference should happen sooner rather than later. We agreed that
we are both serious, more than serious, committed to the Geneva process.
We both agreed that our countries have an ability to be able to make a
difference if we can pull together in that effort."

 

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