Ahmed al-Shara, the leader of the rebel coalition that swept to power in Syria last week, urged the U.S. and other nations to lift sanctions against the country, saying in an interview with journalists yesterday that his urgent priority was rebuilding.

European Union nations on Monday set out conditions for lifting sanctions on Syria and kick-starting aid to the conflict-ravaged country amid uncertainty about its new leaders' intentions just over a week after they seized power.

The EU will not lift sanctions on Syria before its new rulers ensure minorities are not persecuted and women's rights are protected within a unified government that disavows religious extremism, the EU's top diplomat said.

Ahmed al-Shara stressed diplomacy in an interview but criticized Israel’s advance into Syrian territory. A statement said to be from Bashar al-Assad, the ousted leader, defended his decision to leave for Russia.

As Israeli aggression in Gaza, Lebanon, and Post-Assad Syria deepens human suffering and regional instability, and amid growing international calls for ceasefires and de-escalation, Ahram Online covered the latest developments in the Middle East as they unfolded on Monday,

The departure of Russia’s military from Syria should be a precondition for lifting European Union sanctions against the rebel group that took power in Damascus, according to the Dutch foreign minister.

The United Nations special envoy for Syria has called for a quick end to Western sanctions after the ouster of President Bashar Assad

European Union nations want guarantees from Syria’s new leaders that they are preparing for a peaceful political future involving all minority groups, and where extremism, Russia and Iran have no place,

Syrian government has been under strict sanctions by United States, European Union and others for years as a result of Assad’s brutal response to what began as peaceful anti-government protests in 201