Syria

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Syrian President Bashar Assad is under heavy security Saturday as he greets young people during the inauguration ceremony of a statue dedicated to “martyrs” from Syrian universities who died in the country’s 2-year-old civil war. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** Syrian President Bashar Assad delivers a speech at the parliament in Damascus, Syria, June 3, 2012. Israel launched an airstrike into Syria on Friday, May 3, 2013, apparently targeting a suspected weapons site, U.S. officials said Friday night, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/SANA, File)

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Syrian President Bashar Assad makes a rare public appearance Wednesday with a visit to the Umayyad Electrical Station in Damascus, the day after a large explosion.

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This citizen journalism image provided by the Syrian Revolution Against Bashar Assad, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrian rebels, right, standing next a damaged warplane, at Abu Dhour military airbase, which is besieged by the rebels in the northern province of Idlib, Syria, Tuesday, April 30, 2013. (AP Photo/The Syrian Revolution Against Bashar Assad)

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Syrians walk on shattered glass from damaged shops at the scene of a powerful explosion that occurred in the central district of Marjeh in Damascus, Syria, on Tuesday, April 30, 2013. (AP Photo/SANA)

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This citizen journalism image taken on April 25, 2013 and provided by Aleppo Media Center AMC, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows members of the free Syrian Army preparing their weapons in the neighborhood of al-Amerieh in Aleppo, Syria. (Associated Press/Aleppo Media Center AMC)

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** FILE ** Rebels from al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra wave their brigade flag as they step atop a Syrian air force helicopter at the Taftanaz Air Base, which was was captured by the rebels, on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, in Idlib province in northern Syria. (AP Photo/Edlib News Network)

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Anti-Syrian-regime protesters holding Syrian revolution flags during a rally marking the anniversary of the 1946 withdrawal of French troops from Syria, which marked the end of France's mandate of the Arab country, in the old quarter of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, on Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center AMC)

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**FILE** In this citizen journalism image provided by Edlib News Network and authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, rebels from al Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra sit on a truck full of ammunition at Taftanaz air base, which was captured by the rebels, in the Idlib province of northern Syria. (Associated Press/Edlib News Network)

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**FILE** In this citizen journalism image provided by Edlib News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, rebels from al Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra wave their brigade flag on the top of a Syrian air force helicopter on Jan. 11, 2013, at the Taftanaz air base in the Idlib province of northern Syria that was captured by the rebels. (Associated Press/Edlib News Network)