But Germany's foreign minister said sanctions against “Assad’s henchmen who committed serious crimes” must remain in place.

Sharaa, who led Islamist rebel group that toppled regime, urges sanctions relief, as West moves to provide humanitarian essentials while demanding inclusive government

The article explores why Syria, despite its early independence, was unable to establish a democracy, instead evolving into a mukhabarat state

Top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe arrived in the Saudi capital on Sunday to discuss Syria, as world powers push for stability after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's biggest economy,

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Sunday called for the lifting of sanctions on Syria after meetings with top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe. This comes just a month after Islamist-led rebels toppled strongman Bashar al-Assad.

Saudi Arabia and others are overlooking the new leadership’s jihadist past, hoping to gain an advantage on rivals in the strategically positioned country.

Foreign ministers and top diplomats from Western and Middle Eastern countries are meeting Syria's new foreign minister in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday at the first such regional meeting on Syria since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted last month.