New Greek PM expected to win confidence vote (AP)

ATHENS, Greece ? Greece was negotiating with international bankers Wednesday over the details of a euro100 billion ($135 billion) writedown of its debt, as the country's new prime minister geared up to win a confidence vote on his coalition government.

Interim Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, a former central banker appointed after laborious power-sharing negotiations last week, is expected to easily win the vote in parliament. His government is backed by Greece's two main parties ? the majority Socialists and the conservatives ? and a small right-wing party, and is tasked with keeping the nation out of bankruptcy.

After the vote, Papademos will meet with Charles Dallara of the International Institute of Finance, a global bank lobbying group. Dallara will also hold talks with Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, and Greek officials will negotiate over the phone with bankers in Paris and Frankfurt on the debt relief deal struck last month in Brussels.

"I come in a hopeful frame of mind, hoping we can move to implement the decisions taken in Brussels," Dallara told The Associated Press. "I think we can all be hopeful with the new government in Athens."

Greece is at the heart of a vicious debt crisis that has brought it to the brink of bankruptcy. In return for bailout loans, the previous Greek government had to force through a deeply resented austerity program, which has seen repeated tax hikes, and cuts in pensions and civil service salaries.

Since May 2010, the country has survived on installments from a euro110 billion ($150 billion) rescue loan package from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund. When it became obvious that even that sum was not enough, European leaders struck a new bailout deal on Oct. 26, worth a total euro130 billion ($176 billion). In addition, it was agreed that banks and other private holders of Greek bonds would write off 50 percent of their Greek debt holdings.

But last month's political turmoil in Athens delayed the release of the latest loan installment for Greece, worth euro8 billion ($11 billion), without which Greece will go bankrupt before Christmas.

The country's creditors insist the money can only be released after Greece formally accepts the new bailout and rival party leaders sign commitments to honor it ? a demand that conservative leader Antonis Samaras has rejected.

The Ta Nea newspaper highlighted the impasse Wednesday with the front-page headline: "(Samaras') signature is worth euro8 billion."

Samaras told parliament the three coalition partner leaders have already committed themselves in writing to back Papademos, and to seek additional pledges is excessive.

"Not only do we back the transitional government, but we played a leading role in its formation," Samaras said Wednesday, adding that Papademos has a specific mandate to implement the Oct. 26 deal.

Papademos was sworn in last week, replacing Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou who stepped down days after floating a disastrous proposal to put the new debt agreement to a referendum.

While polls show popular support for Papademos' new administration, which will govern until elections in February, Greeks remain deeply angered by 20 months of belt-tightening that have triggered a wave of general strikes and often violent protests.

On Wednesday, public electricity workers turned off the power to the country's health ministry building in Athens for four hours to protest unpaid state bills to the utility.

Their union said the ministry owes the Public Power Corporation, or PPC, euro3.8 million ($5.1 million). out of a total euro141 million ($191 million) state debt to PPC.

The PPC union is protesting a new property tax that is being levied through household electricity bills ? with people who don't pay facing the prospect of having their power supply cut.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111116/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_greece_financial_crisis

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Google Music Artist Hub helps musicians promote, sell music (video)

Thought Google Music was just for artists signed to the big three or one of 23 indie labels? Turns out the company's extending a hand to unsigned artists as well with Google Music Artist Hub. The DIY-like software allows virtually anyone to sell and price their music on Mountain View's storefront. Musicians selling tunes through the service will keep 70 percent of their set list price, forfeiting the other 30 to the Android giant. Those taking the plunge will be privy to the same 90 second song previews as their label-backed brethren, as-well as the ability to have them shared for one free play on Google+. Ready to begin? Your ascent to superstardom awaits you beyond that source link.

Continue reading Google Music Artist Hub helps musicians promote, sell music (video)

Google Music Artist Hub helps musicians promote, sell music (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: More 'Papercuts' for the Gym Class Heroes (AP)

Gym Class Heroes, "The Papercut Chronicles II" (Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen)

Gym Class Heroes are back with part two of their "Paper Chronicles," six years after the original was released.

In between the "Chronicles" albums they released "As Cruel as School Children" and "The Quilt," featuring hits such as "Cookie Jar" and "Clothes Off," but the band hasn't released any material together since 2008.

The lead track is "Stereohearts" featuring Adam Levine. Levine's effort is equally as catchy as Maroon 5's own comeback with "Moves Like Jagger."

This time, Ryan Tedder steps into the role of collaborator in "The Fighter." The song is optimistic and motivational, despite lead singer Travie McCoy declaring that people "are waiting to see me fail"; he takes the persona of a fighter in order to deal with the haters. The dreamy lilt of singer Oh Land with a twinkling piano creates a brilliant soulful contemplation on "Life Goes On."

Tracks such as "Solo Discotheque (Whiskey Bitness)" and "Holy ... Batman" show the band taking a more rock direction, featuring guitar solos and epic choruses, but McCoy's vocal presence on these songs are reduced, making the songs less catchy.

CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: After a bad day, the twinkling optimism of "Life Goes On" featuring Oh Land will put things into perspective.

___

Sian Watson covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sianwatson

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111116/ap_en_mu/us_music_review_gym_class_heroes

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Strewth! Obama gets free croc insurance for Darwin stop (Reuters)

DARWIN, Australia (Reuters) ? President Barack Obama made a fleeting visit on Thursday to Australia's tropical north, home to some of the world's biggest and deadliest crocodiles, and received a unique gift to mark his stopover.

As an official gift, Obama was given crocodile insurance, which would have paid out A$50,000 ($50,682) to his wife, Michelle, if the president had been attacked by a crocodile.

"I was just presented with the most unique gift I have ever received as president -- crocodile insurance. My wife, Michelle, will be relieved," Obama told about 2,000 troops in Darwin.

"I have to admit when we reformed health care in America, crocodile insurance is one thing we left out."

Darwin is the capital of the remote and sparsely populated Northern Territory, made famous in the legendary Crocodile Dundee movies.

The Territory's Chief Minister Paul Henderson took out the crocodile insurance policy for Obama, worth about A$10, and presented him with the certificate as a memento of his visit.

Saltwater crocodiles, which can grow bigger than five meters (16 ft), kill about one to two people a year in Australia.

($1 = 0.987 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by James Grubel in Sydney; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Sugita Katyal)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111117/pl_nm/us_usa_obama_crocodile

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Wal-Mart profit below forecasts despite better sales (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Wal-Mart Stores Inc's decision to absorb most of the rising food costs for its stressed U.S. shoppers and spend on its e-commerce business weighed on profitability, even as key U.S. sales rose for the first time in more than two years.

Sales at U.S. discount stores open at least a year rose more than expected in the third quarter ended on October 31, ending a string of nine straight quarterly declines. Same-store sales have now risen for four months in a row.

But visits to stores were once again down from a year earlier, even as shoppers, on average, spent more per visit.

The results coincided with government reports that U.S. retail sales rose 0.5 percent in October, while wholesale prices fell 0.3 percent.

Walmart U.S., the largest division of the world's largest retailer, held off on raising prices as much as it could to appeal to cost-conscious shoppers who remain concerned about the job market and overall economy.

"They were clearly being aggressive in pricing and gaining share, but they didn't get the leverage on the cost side," said ITG Investment Research analyst John Tomlinson. He said the company might look for more price "givebacks" from vendors.

Groceries cost Walmart U.S. about 4 percent more during the quarter. But Walmart saw inflation of only 0.7 percent across the entire store due to deflation in areas such as televisions, price cuts and customers trading down to less expensive options, said U.S. Chief Executive Bill Simon.

Shares of Wal-Mart were off 2.7 percent at $57.29 in late morning trading on Tuesday.

The shares had been rising heading into the quarterly report, after Wal-Mart said in mid-October that U.S. same-store sales had continued to rise early in the period.

Same-store sales account for about 98 percent of Wal-Mart's sales in the United States, so ending the slump at existing stores is critical for the company, as its international business has not grown as rapidly as some anticipated.

Walmart's customers remain worried about the U.S. job market, CEO Mike Duke said on a recorded call. The company's survey of mothers found that only one out of 10 viewed the economy as "good," he said.

Walmart has been ratcheting up efforts to reach shoppers through the Web and mobile apps, but those measures are coming at a cost. Unallocated corporate overhead and other expenses jumped about 40.7 percent to $536 million, due largely to investment in e-commerce, Treasurer Jeff Davis said on the call.

U.S. TURNAROUND

Walmart U.S. same-store sales rose 1.3 percent. That topped the company's forecast, which called for such sales to be down 1 percent to up 1 percent. It also exceeded the analysts' average forecast for a rise of 0.3 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Walmart is offering holiday season layaway for the first time in years and advertising its low prices more than usual as it tries to win back shoppers who have flocked to competitors including Dollar General Corp.

The most popular toy on layaway so far has been LeapFrog Enterprises Inc's LeapPad, Simon said. The gadget, which is like a tablet computer for kids, is priced at about $99.

Retailers account for a layaway sale when the customer pays for the item in full and picks it up, so most layaway purchases at Walmart will not count as sales until the fourth quarter.

Walmart, which has been open on Thanksgiving for years, will start its big sales at 10 p.m. that night. It has also lowered some prices weeks before Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the traditional kick-off to the holiday shopping season.

Wal-Mart earned $3.34 billion, or 97 cents per share, from continuing operations in the third quarter, compared with $3.44 billion or 95 cents per share a year earlier, when a tax benefit lifted profit by 5 cents per share. There were fewer shares outstanding during the most recent quarter.

The company had forecast a profit of 95 cents to $1.00 per share. Analysts on average expected 98 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Net sales rose 8.2 percent to $109.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Home Depot Inc raised its profit outlook, TJX Companies Inc increased its holiday same-store sales forecast, Staples Inc cut its profit view and profit at Saks Inc topped expectations.

Wal-Mart forecast fourth-quarter earnings of $1.42 to $1.48 per share from continuing operations. Analysts on average forecast $1.45.

It expects Walmart U.S. same-store sales to be flat to up 2 percent after falling 1.8 percent in last year's fourth quarter. At Sam's Club, same-store sales excluding fuel should rise 4 to 6 percent after a 2.7 percent rise last year.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, John Wallace and Matthew Lewis)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/earnings/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111115/bs_nm/us_walmart

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Obama says lack of political will to solve Europe (Reuters)

CANBERRA (Reuters) ? President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he was deeply concerned about the continued euro zone crisis, blaming it on a lack of political will, and that market turmoil would continue until Europe has a concrete plan to deal with its debt woes.

Obama praised French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, along with Greece and Italy and their moves to form unity governments to implement reforms, but he was critical of wider Europe.

"The problem right now is a problem of political will. It is not a technical problem," Obama told a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Canberra.

"I think there is a genuine desire on the part of leaders like President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel, but they've got a complicated political structure," said Obama.

"We saw some progress with Italy and Greece putting forward unity governments that can implement some significant reforms. But at this point the larger Europe community has to stand behind the European project."

Obama's comments, some of the bluntest to date, added to a chorus of non-European policymakers urging greater action to deal with the 2-year-old crisis, and came as equity markets fell in response to a sell-off in euro zone bond markets.

"Until we put in place a concrete plan and structure that sends a clear signal to the markets that Europe is standing behind the euro and will do what it takes, we are going to continue to see the kinds of market turmoil we saw," said Obama.

Asian shares fell on Wednesday and the euro slipped to its lowest levels in a month against the dollar and the yen.

"MEAT ON THE BONES"

Investors have been spooked by signs the crisis is spreading from heavily indebted Greece and Italy to the region's core nations, with yield spreads on Austrian, Belgian and French 10-year bonds over German Bunds hitting euro-era highs on Tuesday.

Obama said that while there had been progress in putting together unity governments in Italy and Greece, Europe still faced more than just a technical problem.

"We're going to continue to advise European leaders on what options we think would meet the threshold where markets would settle down. It is going to require some tough decisions on their part," he said.

"Ultimately, what they are going to need is a firewall that sends a clear signal -- we stand behind the European project, we stand behind the euro."

Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, speaking earlier on Wednesday in Japan, urged European leaders to put "meat on the bones" of plans to stem the contagion.

"Until European countries build firewalls for their financial system, I think we will continue to see market volatility," he said. "Some of us are frustrated by the failure of clear and decisive action in Europe."

China's central bank also voiced its concern, saying in its quarterly monetary policy report posted on its website that the European debt crisis was a prime risk to the global economy.

"The sovereign debt problem in the euro zone will cause continuous turbulence in financial markets, and, if the crisis spreads to core member countries, it may cause global systematic risks," the report said.

Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa told a news conference there were signs the European crisis was starting to affect emerging economies through trade and other channels.

"Dollar funding at European banks has also worsened and there are signs of dollar assets being squeezed, or so-called deleveraging," he said.

(Additional reporting by James Grubel in Canberra, Michael Perry in Sydney and Stanley White in Tokyo; Writing by Alex Richardson; Editing by Paul Tait)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111116/bs_nm/us_obama_eurozone

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[OOC] The Rise of the Exiled

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Your voice makes my heart skip beats


So keep quiet before it quits on me

User avatar
Saint Crash
Member for 0 years



Hmm... Interesting concept. So I note that there is no section on your skeleton for a picture or a physical description. Does this mean that they are optional. And as pictures are optional... would you rather us use a real life picture, or one that was drawn.

User avatar
Vio-Lance
Member for 1 years


May I reserve Hollow-Point? He seems to be a diverse character.

If times get harder again
And you feel like nobody cares
God does
Did you know that?

God doesn't care where you come from
He'll love you all the same
You ask him for forgiveness and redemption
And he'll grant it

User avatar
RPGLoVeR213
Member for 1 years


can I reserve Angel or Dusk

there nothing to fear but fear itself. Bet you won't be saying that....

when you wake up from your nap and there is a graint spider on you freaken face!

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Maybe?
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Response time to open arteries for most critical patients still too slow

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 16-Nov-2011
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Contact: Deborah Mann Lake
deborah.m.lake@uth.tmc.edu
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

UTHealth study: Heart attack patients who call 911 are sicker

HOUSTON (Nov. 16, 2011) Cardiologists are quick to point to statistics showing that the "door-to-balloon" treatment time for heart attack patients has dropped significantly in the past few years.

But a retrospective study reveals that those who call 911 are most likely to have suffered a severe heart attack and despite receiving treatment quickly, they are still dying at unacceptable rates, say researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

Results from the large retrospective study were presented yesterday at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011 by lead author James J. McCarthy, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine at the UTHealth Medical School and director of the Emergency Center at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

Door-to-balloon refers to the period of time from a patient's arrival at the hospital to when a guidewire reaches the blockage and opens the artery with the inflation of a tiny balloon.

The results of the study revealed that patients who call 911 instead of transporting themselves to the emergency room arrive 30 minutes faster and have shorter door-to-balloon times (56 minutes versus 70). Unfortunately, in spite of this they are more likely to be in shock (10.7 percent versus 3.5), suffer heart failure (9.9 percent versus 6.3) by the time they get to the hospital and more likely to die during their hospitalization (7.2 percent versus 2.4).

"Those who call an ambulance are three times more likely to die because their disease is worse. They are much sicker," McCarthy said. "We suspect that it means they have a larger infarct (area of damage). It's a vulnerable population that despite rapid emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital care still has higher mortality"

Previous UTHealth research has shown that if the artery is unblocked in the first hour after a heart attack, there is minimal damage. After three hours, most of the damage has been done so UTHealth researchers have been concentrating on how to shorten that time to two hours or less.

The only way to lower the current time from symptoms to opening the artery is to treat the patient in the ambulance, McCarthy said. A year ago he presented results of a UTHealth clinical trial called Pre-Hospital Administration of Thrombolytic Therapy with Urgent Culprit Artery Revascularization (PATCAR). That trial showed that the mortality rate of patients arriving via EMS could be lowered to 2.9 percent by giving them a low dose of a clot-busting drug intravenously before they arrived at the hospital. The research was a collaboration of UTHealth, Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center (HVI) and the Houston Fire Department.

"We know we've optimized the hospital system and integrated that with EMS but for the cohort that calls 911, that's still not enough," he said. "We need to figure out something else." The researchers are seeking additional funding to expand PATCAR to more patients.

The researchers looked at 37,715 patients in the American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry. The presentation title is "EMS Transport of STEMI Patients Shortens Ischemic Times and is Associated with a Higher Risk Population: Results from the ACTION Registry."

###

Other UTHealth/Memorial Hermann HVI presenters at the conference are Richard Smalling, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director of interventional cardiovascular medicine; and Manuel Munoz Reyes, M.D., interventional cardiology clinical fellow.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 16-Nov-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Deborah Mann Lake
deborah.m.lake@uth.tmc.edu
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

UTHealth study: Heart attack patients who call 911 are sicker

HOUSTON (Nov. 16, 2011) Cardiologists are quick to point to statistics showing that the "door-to-balloon" treatment time for heart attack patients has dropped significantly in the past few years.

But a retrospective study reveals that those who call 911 are most likely to have suffered a severe heart attack and despite receiving treatment quickly, they are still dying at unacceptable rates, say researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

Results from the large retrospective study were presented yesterday at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011 by lead author James J. McCarthy, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine at the UTHealth Medical School and director of the Emergency Center at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

Door-to-balloon refers to the period of time from a patient's arrival at the hospital to when a guidewire reaches the blockage and opens the artery with the inflation of a tiny balloon.

The results of the study revealed that patients who call 911 instead of transporting themselves to the emergency room arrive 30 minutes faster and have shorter door-to-balloon times (56 minutes versus 70). Unfortunately, in spite of this they are more likely to be in shock (10.7 percent versus 3.5), suffer heart failure (9.9 percent versus 6.3) by the time they get to the hospital and more likely to die during their hospitalization (7.2 percent versus 2.4).

"Those who call an ambulance are three times more likely to die because their disease is worse. They are much sicker," McCarthy said. "We suspect that it means they have a larger infarct (area of damage). It's a vulnerable population that despite rapid emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital care still has higher mortality"

Previous UTHealth research has shown that if the artery is unblocked in the first hour after a heart attack, there is minimal damage. After three hours, most of the damage has been done so UTHealth researchers have been concentrating on how to shorten that time to two hours or less.

The only way to lower the current time from symptoms to opening the artery is to treat the patient in the ambulance, McCarthy said. A year ago he presented results of a UTHealth clinical trial called Pre-Hospital Administration of Thrombolytic Therapy with Urgent Culprit Artery Revascularization (PATCAR). That trial showed that the mortality rate of patients arriving via EMS could be lowered to 2.9 percent by giving them a low dose of a clot-busting drug intravenously before they arrived at the hospital. The research was a collaboration of UTHealth, Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center (HVI) and the Houston Fire Department.

"We know we've optimized the hospital system and integrated that with EMS but for the cohort that calls 911, that's still not enough," he said. "We need to figure out something else." The researchers are seeking additional funding to expand PATCAR to more patients.

The researchers looked at 37,715 patients in the American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry. The presentation title is "EMS Transport of STEMI Patients Shortens Ischemic Times and is Associated with a Higher Risk Population: Results from the ACTION Registry."

###

Other UTHealth/Memorial Hermann HVI presenters at the conference are Richard Smalling, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director of interventional cardiovascular medicine; and Manuel Munoz Reyes, M.D., interventional cardiology clinical fellow.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-11/uoth-rtt111611.php

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Syrian opposition presses Moscow on Assad (Reuters)

MOSCOW (Reuters) ? Syrian opposition leaders pressed Moscow to join international calls for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad Tuesday, but Russia said Assad's opponents should hold talks with the government to end months of bloodshed.

After meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the head of the main Syrian National Council opposition group said dialogue would not work without sufficient pressure on Assad.

"Progress on the road to peaceful negotiations ... should start with a decisive step, a strong symbolic step -- it should start with the international community and Arab countries and Russia also asking President Assad to resign in order for Syria to enter a new era," Burhan Ghalioun told reporters.

Russia joined China last month in a double veto of a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have condemned Syria's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters and potentially opened the door for sanctions. It has accused the West of discouraging dialogue between Assad and opponents.

In talks with his opponents, Russia offered no indication it would grant their wish, suggesting it holds out the hope of securing a peaceful resolution without bowing to the West and abandoning its support for Syria's isolated leader.

Instead, Russia said it had called "extremely clearly" on Ghalioun's delegation "to immediately join in the realization of the Arab League initiative to resolve the crisis in Syria through the launch of dialogue between Syria's authorities and the opposition," the Foreign Ministry said.

Ghalioun said that in response to their requests for Moscow to call for Assad's resignation, Russian diplomats said that was not an Arab League condition for dialogue.

CONTINUED CRACKDOWN

Syrian authorities agreed to the Arab League initiative on November 2, pledging to pull the military out of restive cities, free political prisoners and start talks with the opposition, which wants to remove Assad and introduce democratic freedoms.

But the crackdown continued and the Arab League decided Saturday to suspend Syria's membership, a move Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called a mistake.

"We, the Syrian National Council, think that Bashar al-Assad is the only obstacle on the path to achieving a free, democratic Syria," Ghalioun said.

Jordan's King Abdullah said Monday that Assad should step down.

Russia, which has close ties to Assad's government and has sold arms to Syria, has urged the longtime leader to implement promised reforms faster but echoed the government's assertion that its opponents share blame for the violence.

The United Nations says more than 3,500 people have been killed in eight months of protests in the Middle East nation, while Syria's government says armed "terrorist" gangs have killed 1,100 soldiers and police.

Russia, struggling to maintain what influence it has in the Arab world amid unrest that has toppled longstanding leaders, has taken a firm stand in opposition to the West on Syria after voicing anger over NATO air strikes that helped Libyan rebels oust Muammar Gaddafi.

Moscow let the NATO operation go ahead by abstaining in the U.N. Security Council vote that authorized it, but then accused the alliance of overstepping its mandate to protect civilians.

As Western pressure for Security Council action against Syria mounted, Russia emphasized it would not support a resolution that only condemned Assad's government. It then vetoed the U.S.-backed European draft submitted last month, saying it would have opened the way for military intervention.

(Additional reporting by Mikhail Antonov and Nikolai Isayev; Editing by Richard Balmforth)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111115/wl_nm/us_syria_russia

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