Syrian security forces clashed with gunmen today in an upmarket area of the capital Damascus that is home to embassies and senior officials.

As the Vita Cortex workers face into the 50th day of their sit-in at the former foam factory over redundancy payments, there appears to be no end in sight to the dispute, writes Eoin English.

EU countries will wait for the outcome of UN talks tomorrow before announcing what contributions they might make to a planned international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, an EU diplomat said today.