Syrian refugee numbers could triple by late 2013 – UN![]() March 10, 2013 - 15:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said on Sunday, March 10 there could be two or three times the current one million registered Syrian refugees outside the country by the end of 2013 if the rise in numbers continues at its current rate, Reuters reported. "If this escalation goes on, we will have - and nothing happens to solve the problem - we might have in the end of the year a much larger number of refugees, two or three times the present level," Guterres told reporters in Ankara. Partner news U.S. officials say they want to advance efforts to start talks between the Syrian government and opposition leaders. The international conference, backed by Russia and the U.S., aims to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. Nuland, a career foreign service officer who was until recently State's top spokesperson, was expected to be nominated the post. Alkhatib said Assad should respond within 20 days and that he should then be given a month to dissolve parliament. Partner news |