Latest from Syria

Syria's children paying high price

The 11-year-old's singed hair is matted with dirt and blood.

Syria's foreign minister: Govt fights rebels who eat human hearts

Syria's foreign minister has claimed that his government is fighting a war against al-Qaeda-linked militants who eat human hearts and dismember people while they are still alive, then send their limbs to family members.

Weapons experts kick off complex Syria mission

Inspectors charged with the enormous task of overseeing the destruction of Syria's deadly chemical weapons stockpiles have kicked off their mission, racing to meet tight deadlines against the backdrop of civil war.

Key critical of UN's Syria resolution

Prime Minister John Key says a draft Security Council resolution on Syria does not go far enough in ensuring the Syrian regime is held to account.

'I want to go back to Syria'

Rachel Smalley went to Syria with the help of World Vision and saw the impact of the country's refugee crisis through the eyes of a 14-year-old girl.

Syria weapons: UN resolution reached

The five permanent members of the often-divided UN Security Council have reached agreement on a resolution to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.

Russia expects Syria resolution in next two days

The UN Security Council, long paralysed by deep divisions over how to deal with the Syrian conflict, is about two days away from agreeing on a resolution to require Damascus to dismantle its chemical weapons stockpiles.

Disarmament may fail - Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that he could not be sure attempts to persuade Syria to surrender its chemical weapons would succeed.

Rocket trajectory links Syrian military to attack

The trajectory of the rockets that delivered the nerve agent sarin in last month's deadly attack is among the key evidence linking elite Syrian troops based in the mountains overlooking Damascus to the strike that killed hundreds of people.

Diplomacy on two fronts

Key international players were moving on two diplomatic fronts on the Syrian crisis at the United Nations and Geneva.

How the Syria plan came just in time

A look at how the past days' parallel tracks - pushing for approval of a military attack while pausing to give diplomacy a chance - unfolded.

Gwynne Dyer: Casual diplomacy produces unexpected rabbit

When someone pulls a rabbit out of a hat, it's natural to be suspicious. Magicians are professionals in deceit - and so are diplomats. But sometimes the rabbit is real.

Kremlin's plan puts brakes on action

America's threat of military action against Syria's regime receded into the distance yesterday as Washington and its allies decided to test a Russian proposal.

US threat played vital role for Assad

Editorial: The Russian plan for Syria's chemical weapons might not amount to punishment, but it would reinforce the international abhorrence of such weapons.

Syria: NZ blames government for attack

New Zealand is now firmly blaming the Syrian Government for the chemical weapons attack against civilians.

Obama asks to postpone Syria vote

US President Barack Obama has said that recent diplomatic steps offer "the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons" inside Syria without the use of force.

Syria: 'We want to join weapons ban'

Syria says it's ready to state where its chemical weapons are and to halt their production, but the US says it'll have to do more than sign up to a treaty.

Obama: I might lose congressional vote on Syria

Battling stiff resistance in Congress, US President Barack Obama has conceded he might lose his fight for congressional support of a military strike against Syria.