Syria

The US is to return an ambassador to Damascus for the first time since 2005. The last ambassador was withdrawn due to suspected Syrian involvement in the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. According to news reports, the State Department informed Syria's ambassador to the US, Imad Moustafa, of its decision in late June, although it is not yet clear exactly when the ambassador will take up their post. The US decision follows a series of visits to Syria by high-level US officials, including Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.

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