"Once this engagement is fulfilled, the prime minister will hand in his mandate to the head of state who will proceed with appropriate consultations, paying close attention to the positions and proposals of all political forces, " he said.

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He was deputy chief of staff of the army between 2009 and 2011, and a former head of military intelligence, one of the most influential positions in Syria's intelligence apparatus.

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Here, First Minister Carwyn Jones, Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan, MEP Derek Vaughan and Andy Klom, head of the European Commission Office in Wales, explain their respective positions in those budget negotiations.

BBC: What will happen to Wales's share of European funding?

These risks to the upside for oil prices make it likely that market participants will feel more comfortable taking long positions, or bets that prices will rise, than the opposite, said Glen Ward, head of retail derivatives at London Capital Group.

WSJ: Oil's Tug of War Is Poised to Continue