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Former Turkish Army Chief Sentenced to Life in Prison
An Istanbul court has sentenced senior generals, journalists and politicians to long jail terms for an alleged conspiracy against Turkey's Islamist-rooted government. The case is the culmination of a decade-long conflict between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the country's secularist establishment. ...

Backgrounder: 2003 - Sledgehammer / Ergenekon : Turkish Coup Plot
In November 2002 34% of the national vote gave the AK PARTY 363 seats in the 550-seat parliament. At that time, concerns were raised about possible military intervention in domestic affairs. ...

Syria's Assad Calls For Striking Rebels 'With Iron Fist'
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says there is no possibility of a political dialogue with opposition rebels and has called for striking opposition fighters 'with an iron fist.' ...

White House Defends Progress Against al-Qaida, Affiliates
The White House Monday discussed the ongoing threat from Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) as reporters pressed President Obama's spokesman about the extension of some U.S. embassy closures. ...

US Extends Security Closure of Some Diplomatic Missions
The United States says 19 of its diplomatic missions in the Middle East and Africa will remain closed for the rest of the week, even as it reopened some of its embassies on Monday. ...

China warns against rush to set code of conduct in South China Sea
The envisaged Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) cannot be set in a rush as it concerns the interests of many countries and lots of work is required, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday. ...