Natalie Carney

Protests have been continuing for a fourth day in Istanbul, as anger at Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, intensifies. Audio

Syria's ally, Russia, has conceded for the first time that the rebel fighters have the potential to overthrow Bashar al-Assad's regime. Audio

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Istanbul for a landmark visit which may help ease differences with Turkey over the 20-month crisis in war-ravaged Syria. Audio

Turkey has banned all Syrian aircraft from its air space, days after intercepting a Syrian airliner carrying what it said were Russian-made munitions for the Syrian army. Audio

Nato has drawn up plans to defend Turkey if necessary, as the violence in Syria continues to spill over the border. Audio

Syrian opposition activists have accused President Bashar al-Assad's army of massacring hundreds of people in the town of Daraya, close to the capital Damascus. Audio

Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad has made his first appearance in public since a bomb attack in Damascus last month killed several senior officials. Audio

The Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has appointed a new prime minister. Audio

Iran has reaffirmed its support for the Syrian regime, saying it will not allow the "axis of resistance" to be broken. Audio

Government troops are said to be massing around the Syrian city of Aleppo, poised to take back rebel held parts of the city. Audio

Syria government forces have stepped up their assault on the rebel forces they are battling in the capital Damascus. Audio

In what some observers are calling a turning point in the conflict in Syria, three senior figures in President Assad's government have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in Damascus. Correspondent… Audio

Turkish state television has reported eighty-five Syrian soldiers, including an army general, have defected and fled to Turkey. Audio

Tensions are rising on the Turkish- Syrian border, with the Turkish airforce scrambling its fighter jets after three incidents in which Syrian helicopters flew too close. Audio

Turkey has told Syria it should fear Turkish wrath after Syrian forces shot down a Turkish air force jet last week. Audio

Turkey is promising a stern response to the shooting down of one its air force jets by Syrian forces. Audio

Activists in Syria say more than 80 people have been killed in a massacre in the province of Hama. Audio

Fifty-five people have been killed and more than 300 wounded by two suicide car bombs in the Syrian captial, Damascus. Audio

Syrian government forces have reportedly continued to attack opponents in the city of Homs, despite a UN Security Council-sanctioned ceasefire being in force. Audio

Kofi Annan's peace plan has subdued violence in Syria - but the UN envoy and former Secretary-general says he is not satisfied enough is being done by the Syrian government and he wants the United… Audio