BEIRUT - As Syria's civil war grinds on, major differences are emerging between Islamist and secular rebel forces, raising fears that the defining conflict will be a showdown between these forces rather than battling the Damascus regime.

'Confused’ may be an appropriate term to describe Turkey’s current foreign policy in the Middle East and Israel in particular. The source of that confusion - aside from the appalling violence in Syria and earlier in Libya – is Turkey’s own mistakes.

BEIRUT - The three Lebanese governments formed during President Michel Suleiman’s five-year term have all been forced into existence due to external pressures.

A mortar attack on Damascus University killed at least 15 students on Thursday, state television reported, blaming rebels who have stepped up attacks in the heart of the Syrian capital.

TUNIS — The Tunisian capital celebrated the start of the four-day World Social Forum on Wednesday, the first in the Arab world, with thousands attending a march from the city center. Tens of thousands of activists from 124 countries, as well as members of the press, are in attendance.