Earlier this month Syria and Turkey signed what is being described as an historic agreement, which allows visa-free travel between the two countries.

VOA: standard.2009.10.27

But his criticism of what he saw as authoritarianism and human-rights abuses led to his being dropped as successor to the nation's Supreme Leader.

VOA: standard.2009.12.22

The 32-year-old Saberi, who has worked for National Public Radio and the BBC,was jailed in January,allegedly because her press credentials had expired, before being convicted last month of "spying for the United States" in what many are calling a sham-trial.

VOA: standard.2009.05.06