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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Investigators say the bomb that went off in Chelsea contained residue of an explosive compound that is easy to find.

 CBS2’s Alice Gainer reported Tannerite, which is the brand name, is unregulated and that anyone can buy it. The compound is sold as a mix of two chemicals and it creates high explosives when combined.

 An instructional video on Tannerite Sports’ website explains how the exploding target works.

 “Pour the contents of the catalyst packet into the mixing container,” the instructor said in the video.

 The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives defines binary explosives as pre-packaged products consisting of two separate components – typically an oxidizer like ammonium nitrate and a fuel like aluminum or another metal.

 The ATF doesn’t regulate the compound because separately, the chemicals don’t meet the definition of explosive.

 In response to the Chelsea explosion, Tannerite Sports said it is working to determine if their product was definitely used in Saturday’s explosion.

 “As far as our knowledge and independent testing results show, our product can only be set off by a successful high-power rifle shot directly to the target; and in addition that once done it vaporizes as it is an endothermic product,” the company said in a statement.

 Manny Gomez, a former FBI agent and security expert, said the company is being on the “defensive.”

 “They’re being defensive. The bottom line is not if that was used, the bottom line is that product, as well as other products, are easily accessible and could detonate a pressure cooker,” Gomez explained.

 He continued, “Just like you set off a round in a rifle simply by pushing a little snap, every round has its own little detonator, it’s a similar thing with a pressure cooker. The only thing is that they used old-fashioned flip phones as a method of detonation.”

 Gomez compared the product to gasoline put in cars, noting people use it responsibly, but if used inappropriately, that could light a building up.

 “It’s just something we have to be aware of that these terrorists are very clever at finding out what components can come together and make an improvised exploding device,” Gomez said.

 Though they don’t regulate it, ATF has put out advisories about binary explosives before.

 They ask people to report any unusual activity with these materials. For example, if someone is attempting to buy a large quantity while knowing very little about the product.

 The suspect in the bombings, Ahmad Khan Rahami, will be charged with five counts of attempted murder. ||||| The bomb that exploded Saturday in New York City used an explosive called Tannerite, according to news reports. Until now, Tannerite has mostly been known to target shooters. Now it’s being implicated in a terrorist attack. Here are answers to some questions about an explosive you might not have heard of and its role in this unfolding story.

 What is Tannerite?

 Tannerite is the brand name of a binary explosive often used as a rifle target. Binary explosives are two-part mixtures of components that aren’t explosive on their own. The original patent for Tannerite describes a mixture of ammonium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate and powdered aluminum and a few minor ingredients. Steve Yerger, an investigator for the company, says the current proprietary formulation uses just the ammonium nitrate and powdered aluminum.

 Generic mixtures of ammonium nitrate and powdered aluminum, sometimes called ammonal, are sometimes also called Tannerite, like calling all facial tissues Kleenexes.

 Why are people using this stuff?

 Tannerite is popular for target practice because it produces a loud bang and a puff of smoke when hit with a fast-moving bullet. That makes it more obvious—and more exciting—when you hit the target than, say, shooting a piece of paper.

 The reason they use Tannerite specifically is because it’s easy to get and relatively safe. Because the two components aren’t themselves explosive, the Federal government doesn’t regulate Tannerite like it does black powder or TNT. You can buy it online or in stores, and the individual components are available on their own.

 Okay. Is it dangerous?

 It can be. Although Tannerite was designed to produce a relatively small explosion for safety, people have been seriously hurt and even killed using it. In most cases that happened when it was detonated inside a container, which fragmented and sent shrapnel flying at the victims.

 Binary explosives do have an inherent degree of safety, in that they aren’t explosive until the two parts are mixed.

 And how does it work?

 A chemical explosive has two fundamental components: a fuel and an oxidizer. The fuel releases energy when it reacts. The oxidizer provides the oxygen atoms the fuel needs in order to react. In your fireplace, wood is the fuel and the air around us is the oxidizer.

 In the patented recipe for Tannerite, the fuel is aluminum powder with some titanium. The oxidizer is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and ammonium perchlorate, the key part being the “ate” on the ends of those words. That means they contain oxygen, in this case bound to nitrogen and chlorine atoms respectively. Ammonal, the generic version is usually just the aluminum powder and ammonium nitrate.

 When mixed together, the components need a certain amount of energy to set off the explosive reaction. In the case of Tannerite, that comes from the kinetic energy of a fast-moving bullet. Oxygen atoms leave nitrate and perchlorate and bind to aluminum atoms to form aluminum oxide. That’s the stuff that gives untreated aluminum its rough, ashy look.

 Like all explosive reactions, it works because the products are more stable than the starting components.

 Going from less stable compounds to more stable compounds releases energy in the form of heat and light. In the case of Tannerite or ammonal, the reaction also produces a gas, whose expansion in a sealed container adds to the explosive power of a bomb.

 Ammonium nitrate sounds kind of familiar. Where have I heard that name before?

 Ammonium nitrate had figured in high-profile explosions before. It was used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and was the cause of an accidental explosion in 2013 in West, Texas that killed 15 people.

 Explosives use nitrogen-containing compounds like ammonium nitrate because they produce nitrogen gas. TNT, trinitrotoluene, is a famous example. Nitrogen gas, which makes up almost 80% of our atmosphere, is two nitrogen atoms joined by a triple bond. That triple bond is incredibly strong, meaning it takes a huge amount of energy to break. Conversely, the bond releases a huge amount of energy when it forms. In Tannerite or TNT, the formation of nitrogen gas is one source of their explosive energy.

 So Tannerite was the explosive in the New York City bombs?

 Maybe. First, to be clear, the name Tannerite is appearing in news stories attributed to unnamed law enforcement sources. Tannerite residue was reportedly found on the two bombs discovered in New York over the weekend. Other bombs linked to the suspect, Ahmad Rahami, who is now in custody, may have used different explosives. These reports may be wrong in part or whole.

 The company that makes Tannerite is skeptical. Steve Yerger, the company investigator, says he has not been able to confirm with the FBI or other law enforcement agencies that Tannerite was in fact found in the New York bombs. What’s more, he says he doesn’t know how it could have been used.

 In the company’s tests, says Yerger, Tannerite can only be detonated by the impact of a high-velocity bullet. A burning fuse, an electrical current, a hammer blow; none of those will work, according to him. There have been no reports that a gunshot was used to trigger the bomb that exploded in New York on Saturday.

 What Yerger says is entirely plausible. He hasn’t shared the results of the tests he is talking about, but explosives can be and are made so that they only explode in certain ways. “That’s in keeping with a lot of explosive materials,” says Dave Welch, a senior explosives expert at Ramora UK, which does bomb disposal. Welch could not confirm Yerger’s assertions about Tannerite specifically.

 There are other ways to detonate an aluminum oxide and ammonium nitrate bomb though. The bombs in this test of ammonal done by scientists at the Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs were set off with standard detonators and boosters used to produce a shock with enough energy to explode the mixture. We'll need more information from law enforcement agencies before we know what happened in Chelsea.

 Correction: This post has been updated with information from the Tannerite company about the product's formula. ||||| Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE A visual timeline of the bombing attacks and attempted bombing attacks in New York and New Jersey over the weekend of Sept. 17th and 18th. USA TODAY

 NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: FBI agents review the crime scene of remnants of bomb debris on 23rd St. in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood on September 18, 2016 in New York City. An explosion that injured 29 people that went off in a construction dumpster is being labeled an "intentional act". A second device, a pressure cooker, was found four blocks away that an early investigation found was likely also a bomb. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Photo: Stephanie Keith, Getty Images)

 The bomb that exploded in Manhattan on Saturday contained residue of Tannerite, a legal product used primarily for target practice. Tannerite explodes when struck by a bullet from a high-powered rifle so ranges put it on targets as a way to prove a target has been struck.

 The brand-name product is defined as a "binary explosive" by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firerams and Exposives (ATF). This means it's sold in two inert pieces, said Jimmie Oxley, a chemistry professor at the University of Rhode Island. It is not an explosive until the two parts are mixed, Oxley said.

 Even when two separate parts – ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder – are mixed, the compound won't explode until it's hit by the bullet, she said.

 Tannerite cannot be set off by a smoldering fuse, an electronic fuse, an electrical current, an open flame, impact with a hammer or even a low-velocity handgun, according to Steve Yerger, a corporate investigator for Tannerite.

 It's a very stable product, he said.

 A federal law enforcement official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation confirmed that investigators found Tannerite residue the bomb that exploded in Chelsea, injuring 29 people on Saturday night.

 Tannarite makes it easy for shooters at a range to easily determine whether their shot hit its intended target, Yerger said. Tannerite is sold in many sporting goods stores. It's also available on the Tannerite website.

 "We feel horrible that Tannerite has been associated with the bombing," Yerger said,

 On its Facebook page Monday afternoon, the company said that it was aware of the bombing in New York and the explosive devices found in New Jersey. "The entire staff of Tannerite stands together in the abhorrence and unintended use of all products that are misused for violence and hate," the Facebook post said.

 The ATF does not regulate the sale and distribution of the two chemicals used in Tannerite and similar products, even when sold together in binary "kits," the ATF said.

 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Ahmad Rahami: What we know about the suspected bomber | 0:41 Everything we know about the suspected bomber Ahmad Rahami. USA TODAY 1 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY WATCH: Interview with Linden bar owner Harinder Bains | 0:44 Linden bar owner Harinder Bains, who found the bombing suspect asleep in his doorway. USA TODAY 2 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Photographer describes the capture of Ahmad Khan Rahami | 0:47 A photographer recounts the moment he witnessed the arrest of NYC bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami, after a shootout in New Jersey. 3 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Timeline of attacks in New York and New Jersey | 1:08 A visual timeline of the bombing attacks and attempted bombing attacks in New York and New Jersey over the weekend of Sept. 17th and 18th. USA TODAY 4 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Video shows suspect being loaded into ambulance | 1:09 Witness video captured the moment Ahmad Khad Rahami was loaded into an ambulance in Linden, New Jersey following a gun battle with police. Authorities say the Afghan immigrant is the main suspect behind explosions in New York and New Jersey. (Sept. 19) AP 5 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Commuters unfazed despite NYC bombing | 0:54 New York City commuters Monday morning said they weren’t afraid or overly concerned to travel despite the Chelsea weekend bombing and other bombs found in New Jersey. 6 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Mayor de Blasio: No evidence of terror cell | 1:41 Investigators probing bomb blasts in New York and New Jersey say they've found no evidence so far that the suspect in the attacks was part of a broader terrorist cell. (Sept. 19) AP 7 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Mayor de Blasio: NYC bombing was an act of terror | 1:09 New York City Mayor de Blasio, along with other NYC officials, provided more details around the bombing that injured 29 people. Even though officials arrested a suspect, the mayor promised a stronger, visible NYPD presence throughout the week. 8 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY FBI speaks about capture of terror suspect | 1:22 Newark, NJ, FBI Special Agent in Charge Tim Gallagher speaks about the investigation that lead to the arrest of Ahmad Khan Rahami in Linden, NJ. THOMAS P. COSTELLO 9 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Obama tells Americans, 'Don't succumb to fear' | 0:41 Following the explosions in New York City and New Jersey and the stabbing attack in Minnesota, President Obama reminded Americans to stay strong. 10 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Suspected N.Y., N.J. bomber taken into custody | 0:36 Ahmad Khan Rahami, the suspect wanted in connection to the New Jersey and New York City bombings, is now in custody. USA TODAY 11 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY N.J. residents recall N.Y. suspect as 'friendly' | 1:07 Police are seeking 28-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahami, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Afghanistan, in connection to Saturday's bombing in New York. His last known address was in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where the FBI executed a search warrant Monday. (Sept. 19) AP 12 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY NYPD identify 'wanted' man in Manhattan bombing | 0:55 NYPD says a 28-year-old man is wanted for in connection to the New Jersey and New York City bombings. 13 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Raw: Video of Elizabeth, New Jersey Explosion | 1:03 A suspicious device found in a trash can near a New Jersey train station exploded early Monday as a bomb squad was attempting to disarm it with a robot, officials said. (Sept. 19) AP 14 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Man helps injured after New York bombing | 1:14 Cell phone video shows a man helping several women who were injured in Saturday night's bombing in New York. (Sept. 18) AP 15 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Raw: Surveillance shows moment of NYC explosion | 1:53 Surveillance video provided to the Associated Press by Orangetheory Fitness Chelsea, showed people running and debris flying moments after an explosion was set off. (Sept. 18) AP 16 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Mayor calls New York City explosion a bombing | 1:00 New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio says an explosion that rocked a Manhattan neighborhood Saturday night was caused by a bomb. But de Blasio said Sunday that authorities don't yet know who made it, who set it off or the motivation behind it. (Sept. 18) AP 17 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY 5 things to know about NYC explosion | 0:56 A powerful blast from an explosive device injured at least 29 people in New York City's popular Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday night. USA TODAY NETWORK 18 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Raw surveillance of NYC blast | 0:37 Surveillance cameras captured the NYC Chelsea explosion. USA TODAY 19 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Clinton, Trump react to New York blast | 1:08 A deliberate explosion rocked one of the most fashionable neighborhoods of New York on Saturday night, injuring 29 people, one seriously, a week after America's financial capital marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Video provided by AFP Newslook 20 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Trump appears to pre-empt NYC cops on blast | 0:32 Donald Trump appeared to pre-empt New York City officials when he declared Saturday evening that a "bomb went off" in New York City before officials had released details. (Sept. 18) AP 21 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY RAW: Witness assists injured at scene of Chelsea explosion | 1:18 RAW: Witness assists the injured at scene of a powerful explosion from a explosive device the injured at least 29 people in New York's popular Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday. Video courtesy of Ramón Lopez. Ramón Lopez / NorthJersey.com 22 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY New York blast 'intentional' but no known terror link: NY Mayor | 0:58 New York's Mayor Bill de Blasio says a blast in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, which left 29 people injured, was 'intentional' but that there was no evidence of a terror connection. Video provided by AFP Newslook 23 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Raw: NY Governor Arrives At Scene of Explosion | 1:09 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo arrived at the scene of an explosion that rocked a crowded Manhattan neighborhood and injured 29 people the night before. (Sept. 18) AP 24 of 25 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE EXPLOSION IN CHELSEA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY Raw: More than two dozen hurt in New York explosion | 1:09 Police and firefighters are at the scene of a possible explosion in New York City, and authorities say at least 25 people suffered minor injuries. (Sept. 17) AP 25 of 25 Last VideoNext Video Ahmad Rahami: What we know about the suspected bomber

 WATCH: Interview with Linden bar owner Harinder Bains

 Photographer describes the capture of Ahmad Khan Rahami

 Timeline of attacks in New York and New Jersey

 Video shows suspect being loaded into ambulance

 Commuters unfazed despite NYC bombing

 Mayor de Blasio: No evidence of terror cell

 Mayor de Blasio: NYC bombing was an act of terror

 FBI speaks about capture of terror suspect

 Obama tells Americans, 'Don't succumb to fear'

 Suspected N.Y., N.J. bomber taken into custody

 N.J. residents recall N.Y. suspect as 'friendly'

 NYPD identify 'wanted' man in Manhattan bombing

 Raw: Video of Elizabeth, New Jersey Explosion

 Man helps injured after New York bombing

 Raw: Surveillance shows moment of NYC explosion

 Mayor calls New York City explosion a bombing

 5 things to know about NYC explosion

 Raw surveillance of NYC blast

 Clinton, Trump react to New York blast

 Trump appears to pre-empt NYC cops on blast

 RAW: Witness assists injured at scene of Chelsea explosion

 New York blast 'intentional' but no known terror link: NY Mayor

 Raw: NY Governor Arrives At Scene of Explosion

 Raw: More than two dozen hurt in New York explosion

 Mixing binary components together constitutes manufacturing explosives, according to the ATF: "Persons manufacturing explosives for their own personal, non-business use only (such as personal target practice) are not required to have a federal explosives license or permit," the ATF said on its website.

 "However, when the binary components are combined, the resulting mixture is an explosive material," the ATF warned. The ATF issued an advisory last year, warning that these products are "high explosives and should be treated with caution and in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions."

 According to Tannerite, the company's corporate investigator is working to determine whether the product was used in the bombing.

 "At this time we are unable to validate the allegations due to it being an ongoing investigation," according to the company's Facebook page.

 Though federal regulations are lacking, one state is attempting to regulate the sale of Tannerite:

 After a failed attempt last year, Indiana state senator Jim Merritt will again introduce a bill in January 2017 that would prohibit the sale of Tannerite to customers younger than 18 and also require retailers to place the products behind the counter or in a locked display case.

 Though Merritt said he's all for target practice, this is a "common-sense approach," he said, noting several instances of Indiana residents hurt by flying shrapnel in Tannerite-related explosions.

 Contributing: Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2cywmgj |||||

– A legal product that can be purchased online or at a sporting goods store was used in the bomb that went off in Manhattan Saturday, USA Today reports. Tannerite is a product typically used for target practice; it is placed on targets and explodes when struck by a bullet from a high-powered rifle. It's sold in two inert parts (ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder), neither of which is regulated by the ATF. Once those two parts are mixed together, it only explodes if a bullet hits it and is considered very stable, a corporate investigator for Tannerite says. Tannerite residue was found inside the bomb that exploded in Chelsea, a federal law enforcement official tells USA Today. A post on the company's Facebook page Monday reads, "The entire staff of Tannerite stands together in the abhorrence and unintended use of all products that are misused for violence and hate." It goes on to note that its investigator is working to verify that Tannerite was indeed used in the bomb. A former FBI agent tells CBS News Tannerite appears to be "on the defensive." "It’s just something we have to be aware of that these terrorists are very clever at finding out what components can come together and make an improvised exploding device," he says. Forbes has more on the science behind Tannerite.


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2 photo s Slideshow

 Episcopal Church leaders on Wednesday adopt rituals for same-sex marriage ceremonies, making it the third mainline Protestant denomination in America to do so.

 Capping a week of debate in which opposing voices were scarce, the Episcopal Church USA's House of Deputies, meeting in the faith's 78th General Convention, voted 184-23 to approve the new liturgy. In a separate action, Episcopal Church deputies voted 173 to 27 to approve the change to the church's canon, or rules, redefining marriage as being between two persons, instead of a man and a woman.

 "This is one of many bridges we need to build for the future," said E. Bruce Garner, a deputy from Atlanta, of the change. But the Rev. José Luis Mendoza from Honduras opposed the move, saying it would cause schism in the church.

 "This resolution goes against the biblical principles of our church," he said. "Don't be seduced by the fashion of society."

 The Episcopal Church vote comes on the heels of a June 26 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states and a dramatic shift in public support for the change. Episcopalians now join the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ in offering such rituals to same-sex couples.

 The Episcopal Church voted in 1976 that gays and lesbians were "a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the (c)hurch." By 2003, the Episcopal Church elected its first openly gay bishop, a move that critics say triggered a major schism. In the past nine years, the church has lost 12 percent of its membership, statistics revealed.

 Beginning Nov. 29, which Episcopalians note as the first Sunday of Advent, congregations will be authorized to use a rite called "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant," which is designed without reference to gender. Proposed for "trial" use are liturgies tailored to same-sex marriages where they are legal, the church's resolution said.

 The use of the liturgies would be subject to the permission of a diocese's bishop, said the Rev. Brian Baker, a member of the church's task force on marriage. Bishops can refuse to allow the ceremonies in their diocese, and any cleric can refuse to marry any couple for any reason, according to the voted resolution.

 The church's actions Wednesday also involved changing of official Episcopal Church definition of marriage, contained in a resolution proposing revisions to the church's "canon," or rules, concerning marriage.

 According to Joan Geiszler-Ludlum, an attorney from North Carolina and chairwoman of the Committee on Constitution and Canons, those changes would make same-sex couples feel capable of achieving the same goals in marriage other couples desire.

 In the runup to the vote, several dozen people spoke at three hearings of the church's special legislative committee on marriage, as well as in the House of Bishops. Only one, the Rt. Rev. William Love, bishop of Albany, New York, cited the Bible in his arguments, referring to Jesus' words on divorce that refer to marriage as between a man and a woman.

 Several Episcopal Church delegates said discussions about scriptural interpretations of marriage and same-sex behavior have been ongoing prior to the Salt Lake City convention.

 Norah Grimball, a lay deputy from Columbia, South Carolina, said her diocese has "discussed this at length" of the study papers citing scripture. "We have to realize that most of the Bible's references (against homosexuality) were in the setting of abuse and not a committed, loving relationship," she said.

 The Rt. Rev. Don Johnson, also saying the Bible's viewpoint has been discussed over the years, added, "we are trying to be faithful to God's love for all creation and our call to be part of that."

 Responding to the earlier vote by the House of Bishops approving the new marriage liturgy, the leader of the world's Anglicans said the move would add stress to relationships between the Episcopal Church and its Anglican peers.

 Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby stated the American move "will cause distress for some and have ramifications for the Anglican Communion as a whole, as well as for its ecumenical and interfaith relationships."

 Email: mkellner@deseretnews.com

 Twitter: @Mark_Kellner ||||| SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Episcopalians overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to allow religious weddings for same-sex couples, solidifying the church's embrace of gay rights that began more than a decade ago with the pioneering election of the first openly gay bishop.

 FILE - In this May 1, 2005, file photo, Bishop Gene Robinson addresses the congregation at Christ Church in Philadelphia, Sunday, May 1, 2005. Robinson, now retired, said he is breathless about how quickly... (Associated Press)

 The vote came in Salt Lake City at the Episcopal General Convention, just days after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide. It passed in the House of Deputies, the voting body of clergy and lay participants at the meeting. The House of Bishops had approved the resolution Tuesday by 129-26 with five abstaining.

 The Very Rev. Brian Baker of Sacramento said the church rule change was the result of a nearly four-decade long conversation that has been difficult and painful for many. Baker, chair of the committee that crafted the changes, said church members have not always been kind to one another but that the dynamic has changed in recent decades.

 "We have learned to not only care for, but care about one other," Baker said. "That mutual care was present in the conversations we had. Some people disagreed, some people disagreed deeply, but we prayed and we listened and we came up with compromises that we believe make room and leave no one behind."

 Baker said the denomination's House of Bishops prayed and debated the issue for five hours earlier this week before passing it on to the House of Deputies.

 During debate on Wednesday, several deputies spoke in support of the move, with some saying it was long overdue. Opponents spoke too, including Jose Luis Mendoza-Barahona of Honduras, who gave an impassioned speech in Spanish against the change, saying it goes against the biblical basis of the church and would create a chasm in the church.

 The vote eliminates gender-specific language from church laws on marriage so that same-sex couples could have religious weddings. Instead of "husband" and "wife," for example, the new church law will refer to "the couple." Under the new rules, clergy can decline to perform the ceremonies. The changes were approved 173-27. The convention also approved a gender-neutral prayer service for marriage on a 184-23 vote.

 The measures take effect the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 29.

 Many dioceses in the New York-based church of nearly 1.9 million members have allowed their priests to perform civil same-sex weddings, using a trial prayer service to bless the couple. Still, the church hadn't changed its own laws on marriage until Wednesday.

 The Episcopal Church joins two other mainline Protestant groups that allow gay marriage in all their congregations: the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The 3.8-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America lets its congregations decide for themselves, and many of them host gay weddings.

 The United Methodist Church, by far the largest mainline Protestant church with 12.8 million members, bars gay marriage, although many of its clergy have been officiating at same-sex weddings recently in protest.

 The Episcopal Church is the U.S. wing of the Anglican Communion, an 80 million-member global fellowship of churches. Ties among Anglicans have been strained since Episcopalians in 2003 elected Bishop Gene Robinson, who lived openly with his male partner, to lead the Diocese of New Hampshire.

 On the eve of the U.S. vote, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the world's Anglicans, issued a statement expressing deep concern about the move to change the definition of marriage.

 Faith groups across the spectrum of belief, from the Episcopal Church to the Southern Baptists, have been losing members as more Americans say they identify with no particular religion. The Episcopal Church has shrunk 18 percent over the last decade, after more than a generation of steady decline.

 After the Supreme Court ruling last week, many conservative churches, including the Southern Baptists and the Mormons, renewed their opposition to gay marriage.

 The gay marriage decision is the second major news to come from the convention, the top policymaking body of the church. The church elected its first black presiding bishop last weekend, with Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina winning in a landslide.

 Curry has allowed same-sex church weddings in North Carolina, and he said the Supreme Court "affirmed the authenticity of love" by legalizing gay marriage.

 ___

 McCombs reported from Salt Lake City. AP Religion Writer Rachel Zoll reported from New York. |||||

 Gene Robinson, who in 2003 became the first Episcopal bishop living openly with a same-sex partner, attends the Episcopal General Convention in Salt Lake City on Thursday. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

 This analysis is by George Conger, who has reported on the Anglican/Episcopal world for almost 20 years, writing for newspapers and magazines in England, the United States and Australia. He also serves as an Episcopal priest in a parish in Florida.

 The bishops of the Episcopal Church have authorized their clergy to perform same-sex weddings, but don’t expect sweeping changes across the entire denomination anytime soon. Episcopalians voted Wednesday to allow religious weddings for gay couples, but not every priest will necessarily officiate at a same-sex wedding.

 In resolutions adopted here at the denomination’s General Convention meeting in Salt Lake City this week, the bishops have endorsed new liturgies or services for same-sex couples wishing to marry in church. The bishops also approved changing the church’s canons, or rules, governing marriage, making them gender neutral by substituting the terms “man and woman” with “couple.” However, clergy were also given the right to refuse to perform a same-sex marriage, with the promise they would incur no penalty, while bishops were given the right to refuse to allow the services to take place in their diocese.

 The compromise means that same-sex weddings may occur after Nov. 1, 2015, with the full blessing of the church in places like Washington, Los Angeles and New York, but likely won’t take place in more conservative parts of the church, like Dallas, Albany and Orlando.

 On Tuesday, the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion that includes the Episcopal Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, released a statement expressing his “deep concern” over the votes and urged the bishops to pull back, writing that the “decision will cause distress for some and have ramifications for the Anglican Communion as a whole, as well as for its ecumenical and interfaith relationships.”

 The church’s compromise has sparked the ire of Episcopalians who are both for and against same-sex marriage. Those who are more theologically liberal may try to block the bishops’ plan, insisting on the immediate introduction of same-sex marriage with no way for dioceses to opt out. On the other hand, those who are conservative are likely to reach out to overseas leaders in the wider Anglican Communion to pressure the church to stop.

 The conservative minority of bishops at the meeting agreed the compromise was the best outcome they could hope to achieve, and told their liberal colleagues they were grateful for the accommodation given them.

 [Reflecting on outgoing Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s tenure as Episcopal Church brings in new leader]

 The bishops agreed to allow clergy to begin offering same-sex marriages using the new rites after Nov. 1. However, no clergy could be compelled to perform a same-sex marriage, and a bishop had the authority to forbid his clergy from celebrating gay marriages.

 The former bishop of Virginia, Peter Lee, explained to the bishops in Salt Lake City the accommodation meant that a conservative priest in a liberal diocese would incur no penalty if he refused to perform a same-sex marriage. The priest would, however, have to pass a couple seeking to be married on to another church or priest to perform the ceremony.

 Priests in dioceses where the bishop forbid same-sex marriages may not solemnize gay marriages. A priest who did so would be liable for punishment for disobeying the bishop. A diocese that does not perform gay marriages must pass the couple on to another part of the church that permits gay marriage.

 The path toward same-sex blessings and same-sex marriage began at the 2012 meeting of the General Convention in Indianapolis — the triennial assembly of bishops and deputies from the church’s 109 American and overseas dioceses. The church approved “provisional” same-sex blessing rites that could be used with the permission of the local bishop.

 The default position of the church, however, was that marriage was an exclusive life-long covenant of one man and one woman, as described in the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer. The provisional rites and trial rites would expand the traditional teaching about marriage, the majority argued, without changing the church’s underlying text or doctrine of marriage.

 Where do the battle lines get drawn now?

 Bishop Edward S. Little II of northern Indiana opposed the change, telling the convention that the “issue is not the welcome of gays and lesbians” — all agreed they were to be welcomed, he said — but “whether we should alter the received faith of the church?”

 Bishop Stephen Bauerschmidt of Tennessee told the convention that “procreation” was a central tenet of the Christian understanding of marriage. It “must have the potential to be fruitful in the procreation of a third person,” he argued.

 Bishop William Love of Albany rose and addressed the convention and cited the biblical passage Matthew 19:5, where Jesus states that at marriage “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

 “If our Lord is the son of God … God incarnate. He is quite aware of the nature of marriage and could have offered alternatives but did not,” Love said. The issue before the Episcopal Church was not whether “men and women can love each other.” The Episcopal Church supported the full civil rights of gays and lesbians, he said. But “God has told us that is not appropriate to use the gift of sexual intimacy” outside of the marriage of one man and one woman.

 What the church should be telling partnered gay and lesbian couples is, “Do you love your partner enough not to engage in sexual intimacy? The issue before us is not about relationships but sexual intimacy,” Love said.

 Other bishops disagreed, saying same-gender sexual intimacy was morally acceptable and should be blessed in faithful covenanted relationships. The former bishop of New Hampshire V. Gene Robinson — the first openly gay Episcopal bishop — expressed the sentiments of the majority when he told the convention, “I think it is time for us to do this.”

 “Gays and lesbians are living out their lives in holy ways,” Robinson said. Changing the church’s rules on marriage “allows us to recognize this” and to “declare how far we have come.”

 The Bishop of eastern Michigan, Todd Ousley, also disagreed with some bishops’ emphasis on “procreation” as a central aim of marriage. The theological studies on marriage undertaken over the past few years had provided a more expansive understanding of “fruitfulness” in marriage, he told the bishops. As the biological father of one and adopted father of two children, Ousley stated that he and his wife “have been fruitful” in their marriage. Procreation’s biological meaning should not drive its theological meaning, he argued.

 A spokesman for the church, Bishop Rev. Pierre Whalon, downplayed the archbishop of Canterbury’s concern that the votes would cause distress for the global church body. “The change of canons does not change anything,” Whalon told The Washington Post, adding that the introduction of trial rites did not detract from the authority of the church’s official stance as stated in the Book of Common Prayer.

 What the bishops did agree on was to hold conflicting stances in tension and allow each side to honor their consciences.

 (This piece has been updated to clarify the Episcopal Church’s connection to the Anglican Communion.)

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What is a shorter version of the above article?

– The leaders of the Episcopal Church have approved same-sex marriage by a more resounding margin than the Supreme Court did last week: The church's House of Deputies voted 173-27 in favor of new rules and rituals that will allow same-sex couples to be married in church, the AP reports. The House of Bishops backed the changes 129-26 on Tuesday. The church, which is the American member of the Anglican Communion, was seen as a trailblazer when it elected an openly gay bishop in 2003 and is now the third major Protestant group to allow gay marriage in all congregations, after the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church, which voted to redefine marriage earlier this year, the AP notes. It took a week of debate at the church's General Convention to bring in the changes, which include ditching terms like "wife" and "husband" for gender-neutral language, the Deseret News reports. The final product of the negotiations was a compromise that allows clergy to refuse to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies, which means that although such ceremonies may begin in some areas this fall, they are unlikely to be held in more conservative dioceses, Episcopal priest George Conger explains at the Washington Post. "What the bishops did agree on was to hold conflicting stances in tension and allow each side to honor their consciences," he writes.


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But he opened the door, however slightly, to talks with Syrian religious and community leaders “who have influence on the ground” with fighters. By acknowledging ties between elements of the armed opposition and parts of Syrian society, the offer represented a subtle shift in tone from the government’s portrayal of the armed rebellion as a foreign-led conspiracy.

 Still, the question of who within the diffuse opposition could both deliver results and be an acceptable negotiating partner to the government bedevils attempts to reach a political solution to the war in Syria, which has killed more than 100,000 people and forced millions from their homes.

 Mr. Mekdad exuded confidence that President Bashar al-Assad’s government had taken the upper hand against the rebels and said that even as it pledged to give up its chemical weapons to avoid a United States airstrike, the government had achieved diplomatic and military victories.

 Sitting in an inlaid damascene chair in his office overlooking the city, Mr. Mekdad said the natural next step was an international push for Israel to relinquish its arsenal of nuclear weapons, which the neighboring state has never formally acknowledged and which was never linked to Syria’s agreement to give up its chemical weapons stockpile.

 He said the government was “100 percent sure” that rebels, not government forces, fired the chemical weapons that killed hundreds of people in the Damascus suburbs in August, a statement dismissed by American officials and at odds with some of the scientific findings of United Nations inspectors sent to investigate the chemical attack. ||||| Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – In this photo provided by the anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center, Syrian men help survivors out of a building in Aleppo after it was bombed, allegedly by a Syrian regime warplane on Saturday, February 8. The United Nations estimates more than 100,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011. Click through to see the most compelling images taken during the conflict, which is now a civil war: Hide Caption 1 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians gather at a site hit by barrel bombs, allegedly dropped by a regime helicopter on the opposition-controlled Mesekin Hananu district of Aleppo on February 8. Hide Caption 2 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Civilians wave national flags as they take part in a rally in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, in a handout photo released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency on February 8. Hide Caption 3 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man stands next to debris in the road following a reported airstrike by Syrian government forces in the northern city of Aleppo on February 8. Hide Caption 4 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Medical personnel look for survivors after a reported airstrike in Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday, February 1. Hide Caption 5 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – An injured man is covered in dust after an airstrike on January 29. Hide Caption 8 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man tries to fix electrical wires in a neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, on January 27. Hide Caption 9 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rebels and civilians check out a crater that activists say resulted from a Syrian government airstrike on an Aleppo bus station on Tuesday, January 21. Hide Caption 10 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Men rush to a site that Syrian government forces reportedly hit in Aleppo on January 21. Hide Caption 11 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Buildings lie in ruins in Aleppo on Sunday, January 19, after reported air raids by Syrian government planes. Hide Caption 12 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian child collects items from a garbage pile on Saturday, January 18, in Douma, northeast of the capital. Hide Caption 13 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A piece of exploded mortar lies in a street in Daraya, a city southwest of Damascus, on Friday, January 17. Hide Caption 14 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Residents search for survivors in Aleppo on Saturday, December 28, 2013, after what activists said were airstrikes by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Hide Caption 15 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man appears distraught after an air raid in Aleppo on Monday, December 23. Hide Caption 16 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters sit in a damaged house in Old Aleppo on Saturday, December 21. Hide Caption 17 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – People search for survivors amid the rubble after an airstrike in Aleppo on Tuesday, December 17. Hide Caption 18 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man sits on the ground after the airstrike in Aleppo on December 17. Hide Caption 19 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A woman carries children following airstrikes on a rebel area of Aleppo on Sunday, December 15. Hide Caption 20 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians look at the aftermath of an airstrike on a rebel area of Aleppo on December 15. Hide Caption 21 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians help a wounded woman following airstrikes in Aleppo on December 15. Hide Caption 22 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians look at the aftermath of an airstrike on a rebel area of Aleppo on December 15. Hide Caption 23 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian rebel fighters clash with pro-government forces in Aleppo on Wednesday, December 11. Hide Caption 24 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A woman weeps inside a damaged vehicle after forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad captured the town of Nabak on Monday, December 9. Hide Caption 25 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter takes position during fighting with government forces in Deir Ezzor on Monday, December 2. Hide Caption 26 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Shiite fighters from a group called the Hussein Brigade search for rebels from the Free Syrian Army in Hejeira on Thursday, November 21. Hide Caption 27 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army rebels battle government forces in Aleppo on Monday, November 18. Hide Caption 28 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter holds his position in a damaged building during clashes with government forces in Deir Ezzor on Monday, November 11. Hide Caption 29 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter fires during clashes with government forces in Deir Ezzor on November 11. Hide Caption 30 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter prepares an improvised mortar shell in Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday, November 9. Hide Caption 31 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Two injured men are transported on a cart in Aleppo, Syria, following shelling as fighting between pro-government forces and rebels continues on Saturday, October 26. Hide Caption 32 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rebel fighters hold a position in Deir Ezzor, Syria, on Thursday, October 24. Hide Caption 33 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – An opposition fighter stands in the doorway of a building as he smokes a cigarette in Deir Ezzor, Syria, on Tuesday, October 22. Hide Caption 34 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – People use buckets as they try to extinguish a fire that ignited at a fuel station in Aleppo, Syria, on Sunday, October 20. Hide Caption 35 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian opposition fighter aims a catapult toward regime forces in Aleppo, Syria, on Thursday, October 17. Hide Caption 36 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Firefighters extinguish a burning vehicle after two mortar rounds struck the Abu Roumaneh area in Damascus, Syria, on Saturday, October 12. Hide Caption 37 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – An opposition fighter aims as others run for cover while they hold a position behind burning tires in the Salaheddin district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Wednesday, October 9. Hide Caption 38 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – An opposition fighter smokes a cigarette as he takes a break following the injury of his friend in the Salaheddin neighborhood of Aleppo on October 9. Hide Caption 39 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Smoke rises after a mortar shell hit a residential area during fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels in Maaret al-Numan, Syria, on October, 9. Hide Caption 40 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rebel fighters cover a car in mud for camouflage at an undisclosed location in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib on Tuesday, October 8. Hide Caption 41 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Masked female rebel fighters walk alongside their trainer on a street in the Salaheddin district of Aleppo, Syria, on October 8. Hide Caption 42 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter prays moments before heading into battle in Maaret al-Numan, Syria, on Monday, October 7. Hide Caption 43 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A mother comforts her baby in an area where she and her family have taken shelter after fleeing their village turned battlefield in Syria's Idlib province on Sunday, September 22. Hide Caption 44 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man checks an AK-47 at his gun shop in Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday, September 21. Hide Caption 45 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters take cover moments after firing a rocket toward government forces in the Idlib province of northern Syria on Friday, September 20. Hide Caption 46 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rebel fighters inspect a stairwell amid fighting against Syrian government forces on Thursday, September 19, in the Saif al-Dawla district of Aleppo, Syria. Hide Caption 47 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian child sits in a village in the Idlib province countryside on September 19. Hide Caption 48 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Opposition fighters react after returning from the battlefield in the Idlib province countryside on September 19. Hide Caption 49 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Smoke rises after a bomb was thrown from a helicopter, hitting a rebel position during heavy fighting between troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition fighters in the Idlib province on September 19. Hide Caption 50 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rebel fighters duck behind a barricade from firing in Aleppo on Wednesday, September 18. Hide Caption 51 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – AFP reporter Sammy Ketz hits the ground as a Syrian soldier runs past during sniper fire in Maalula on September 18. Ketz and a photographer were reporting on the ancient Christian Syrian town northeast of Damascus. Hide Caption 52 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian opposition fighter takes a break on a mountain near a rebel camp in Idlib province on September 18. Hide Caption 53 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter rests inside a cave at a rebel camp in Idlib province on Tuesday, September 17. Hide Caption 54 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Volunteers wear protective gear to show a class how to respond to a chemical attack in Aleppo, Syria, on September 15. For two months, Mohammad Zayed, an Aleppo University student, has been training a group of 26 civilians to respond to a chemical attack. Hide Caption 55 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syria's pro-Assad militia rest near Maalula, Syria, on Friday, September 13. Hide Caption 56 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian soldiers take aim at rebel fighters positioned in the mountains of the Christian town of Maalula on September 13. Hide Caption 57 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rebels parade at a former military academy north of Aleppo during a September 13 ceremony to mark an agreement to unite two rebel brigade forces. Hide Caption 58 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A fighter of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command squats next to the covered body of an alleged foreign rebel fighter in the Yarmouk refugee camp in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Thursday, September 12. Hide Caption 59 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – An opposition fighter runs in front of a sniper curtain in the industrial area of Deir Ezzor, Syria, during clashes with regime forces on September 12. Hide Caption 60 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A sheet hangs across an alley way to shield fighters from sniper fire as a fighter of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command walks past destroyed buildings in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, Syria, on September 12. Hide Caption 61 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter stands guard inside a damaged house in Aleppo's Qastal al-Harami neighborhood on September 11. Hide Caption 62 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters climb a flight of stairs to take positions near the Hanano barracks on September 11. Hide Caption 63 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian government tank is seen during clashes with Free Syrian Army fighters in Maaloula, Syria, on September 11. Hide Caption 64 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A funeral is held on September 11 for three Christian Syrians killed during battles with an al Qaeda-linked rebel group that took control of the historic Christian town of Maaloula from regime forces during the weekend. Hide Caption 65 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man walks through a destroyed residential area of Saraqib, Syria, on Monday, September 9, following repeated airstrikes by government forces. Hide Caption 66 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A soldier wears a picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on his chest while at a market in old Damascus on September 8. Hide Caption 67 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter prays in a trench in the Damascus suburbs on September 8. Hide Caption 68 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter takes up a shooting position in Aleppo on September 8. Hide Caption 69 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter runs for cover in Raqqa province on September 8. Hide Caption 70 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Buildings are heavily damaged in the Salah al-Din area of Aleppo on September 8. Hide Caption 71 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A boy named Issa , 10, carries a mortar shell in a weapons factory of the Free Syrian Army in Aleppo on Saturday, September 7. The boy works with his father in the factory. Hide Caption 72 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Issa fixes a mortar launcher in the Aleppo weapons factory on September 7. Hide Caption 73 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A bedroom lies in ruins after clashes between government forces and rebels around Ariha on September 7. Hide Caption 74 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian forces are seen in the Syrian Christian town of Maaloula on September 7. Hide Caption 75 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian soldier prepares large-caliber bullets for a machine gun in Maaloula on September 7. Hide Caption 76 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man stands inside a home damaged by heavy shelling in Arbeen, a suburb of Damascus, Syria, on September 7. Hide Caption 77 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Men gather on the remains of a destroyed building after reported airstrikes by Syrian government forces in the rebel-held northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on Thursday, September 5. Hide Caption 78 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter takes cover as he watches forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad near Hanano barracks in Aleppo on September 3. Hide Caption 79 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters walk inside a damaged house in Aleppo on September 3. Hide Caption 80 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters talk inside a burnt house in Aleppo on September 3. Hide Caption 81 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter peeks through the curtains of a bedroom in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, on Monday, September 2. Hide Caption 82 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters take their positions behind piled sandbags, as one of them points his weapon, in Deir ez-Zor on September 2. Hide Caption 83 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter points his weapon at Syrian regime forces in Deir ez-Zor on September 2. Hide Caption 84 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian firefighters try to extinguish a fire after a missile hit a residential building in Damascus, Syria, on September 2. Hide Caption 85 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A U.N. arms expert collects samples during an inspection of a suspected chemical weapons strike site in the Ghouta area outside Damascus on August 29. Hide Caption 86 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – People search for belongings in rubble in Raqqa, Syria, on August 29. Hide Caption 87 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian Kurd uses hay to hide another woman in a training session organized by the Kurdish Women's Defense Units on Wednesday, August 28, in a northern Syrian border village. They're preparing if the area comes under attack. Hide Caption 89 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters escort U.N. vehicles with chemical weapons experts on August 28 through a site of a suspected chemical weapons attack outside Damascus. Hide Caption 90 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter takes position behind sandbags in the old city of Aleppo, Syria, on Tuesday, August 27. Hide Caption 91 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A U.N. team leaves its Damascus, Syria, hotel in a convoy on Monday, August 26. The team was to investigate an alleged chemical attack that killed hundreds last week in a suburb of the Syrian capital. Sniper fire hit a vehicle used by the U.N. chemical weapons investigation team multiple times Monday, according to the United Nations. Hide Caption 92 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian soldier walks down a street in Damascus on Saturday, August 24. Hide Caption 93 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Pigeons lie dead on the ground on August 24 from after what activists say is the use of chemical weapons by government forces in the Damascus suburb of Arbeen. Hide Caption 94 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Columns of smoke rise in Barzeh after heavy shelling on Friday, August 23. Hide Caption 95 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A young Free Syrian Army fighter is reflected in a mirror as he takes position in a house in Aleppo on Thursday, August 22. Hide Caption 96 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian rebels claim pro-government forces used chemical weapons to kill citizens outside Damascus on Wednesday, August 21. People inspect bodies in this photo released by the Syrian opposition Shaam News Network. Hide Caption 98 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – People search the rubble of a bombed building in Aleppo, Syria, on Friday, August 16. Hide Caption 99 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Yahya Sweed, 13, is comforted by his father as he lies on a bed in Kfar Nubul on Tuesday, July 16. The boy was injured by shrapnel, resulting in the amputation of his right leg. Hide Caption 106 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter naps in a trench about 300 feet from the Syrian government forces' positions along the highway connecting Idlib with Latakia on Monday, July 15. Hide Caption 107 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter uses a mirror to scope out snipers loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo on Friday, July 12. Hide Caption 109 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter stands over a boy who was injured during shelling in Al-Bara on Monday, July 8. Hide Caption 110 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian rebels leave their position in the northwestern town of Maaret al-Numan on Thursday, June 13. The White House said that the Syrian government has crossed a "red line" with its use of chemical weapons and announced it would start arming the rebels. Hide Caption 112 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are seen near Qusayr on Thursday, May 30. Hide Caption 113 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian army soldiers take control of the village of Western Dumayna north of the rebel-held city of Qusayr on Monday, May 13. Syrian troops captured three villages in Homs province, allowing them to cut supply lines to rebels inside Qusayr town, a military officer told AFP. Hide Caption 115 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rebel fighters fire at government forces in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday, May 12. Hide Caption 116 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Kurdish fighter from the "Popular Protection Units" (YPG) takes position inside a building in the majority-Kurdish Sheikh Maqsood area of Aleppo, on Apri. 21. Hide Caption 118 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – People walk past destroyed houses in the northern Syrian town of Azaz on Sunday, April 21. Hide Caption 119 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel runs to avoid sniper fire from Syrian government forces in Aleppo on April 11. Hide Caption 124 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian rebels observe the movement of Syrian government forces around Al-Kendi hospital in Aleppo on Wednesday, April 10. Hide Caption 125 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rescue teams and security forces check out the scene of a deadly car bomb explosion in Damascus on April 8. Hide Caption 126 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – The fighting has taken a toll on buildings in Aleppo's Saladin district, seen here on April 8. Hide Caption 127 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian rebel runs for cover in Deir ez-Zor on April 2. Hide Caption 128 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel checks for snipers across the street toward the Citadel in Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday, March 30, in this photo taken by iReporter Lee Harper. Hide Caption 129 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian fighter mourns the death of a friend in Aleppo on March 30, in this photo taken by iReporter Lee Harper. Hide Caption 130 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian opposition fighter runs for cover from Syrian army snipers in Aleppo on Wednesday, March 27. Hide Caption 131 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian man and his family drive past damaged buildings in Maarat al-Numan, on Wednesday, March 20. Hide Caption 133 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians carry the body of a Syrian army soldier during a funeral ceremony in Idlib province on Tuesday, March 19. Hide Caption 134 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian rebels take position in Aleppo, the largest city in the country, on March 11. Hide Caption 135 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian men search for their relatives amongst the bodies of civilians executed and dumped in the Quweiq River on March 11. Hide Caption 136 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter looks back as smoke rises during fighting between rebel fighters and forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on the outskirts of Aleppo on Saturday, March 2. Hide Caption 137 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Residents read Shaam News newspapers published by the Free Syrian Army in Aleppo on March 2. Hide Caption 138 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A member of the Free Syrian Army reacts to the death of a comrade who was killed in fighting, at Bustan al Qasr cemetery in Aleppo on Friday, March 1. Hide Caption 139 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter throws a home-made grenade at Syrian government forces in Aleppo on February 16. Hide Caption 140 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A member of the Free Syrian Army stands with his weapon as he looks at a rainbow in Aleppo on February 16. Hide Caption 141 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian woman looks through a bus window in Aleppo on February 14. Hide Caption 142 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters walk through a dust-filled stairwell in Damascus on February 7. Hide Caption 143 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian rebel gestures at comrades from inside a broken armored personnel carrier in Al-Yaqubia on February 6. Hide Caption 144 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter throws a hand grenade inside a Syrian Army base in Damascus on February 3. Hide Caption 145 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – People stand in the dust of a building destroyed in an airstrike in Aleppo, Syria on February 3. Hide Caption 146 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters run as they enter a Syrian Army base during heavy fighting in the Arabeen neighborhood of Damascus on February 3. Hide Caption 147 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – An unexploded mortar shell fired by the Syrian Army sits lodged in the ground in Damascus on January 25. Hide Caption 148 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Fighters from Fateh al Sham unit of the Free Syrian Army fire on Syrian Army soldiers at a check point in Damascus on January 20. Hide Caption 149 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army fighter walks between buildings damaged during Syrian Air Force strikes in Damascus on January 19. Hide Caption 150 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian rebel fighter tries to locate a government jet fighter in Aleppo on January 18. Hide Caption 151 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian rebels launch a missile near the Abu Baker brigade in Albab on January 16. Hide Caption 152 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian boy walks near rubbish next to tents at a refugee camp near the northern city of Azaz on the Syria-Turkey border, on January 8. Hide Caption 153 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians look for survivors amid the rubble of a building targeted by a missile in Aleppo on January 7. Hide Caption 154 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A father reacts after hearing of a shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo on January 3. Hide Caption 155 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A patient smokes a cigarette at Dar Al-Ajaza psychiatric hospital in Aleppo on December 18, 2012. The psychiatric ward, housing around 60 patients, has lacked the means to function properly since fighting broke out there in July. Hide Caption 156 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians mourn a fallen rebel fighter at a rebel base in the al-Fardos area of Aleppo on December 8, 2012. Hide Caption 157 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Members of Liwa (Brigade) Salahadin, a Kurdish military unit fighting alongside rebel fighters, monitor the area in the besieged district of Karmel al-Jabl in Aleppo on December 6, 2012. Hide Caption 158 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A member of Liwa Salahadin aims at a regime fighter in the besieged district of Karmel al-Jabl in Aleppo on December 6, 2012. Hide Caption 159 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Two young boys sit underneath a washline in a refugee camp on the border between Syria and Turkey near Azaz on December 5, 2012. Hide Caption 160 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – The bodies of three children, who were allegedly killed in a mortar shell attack that landed close to a bakery in Aleppo, on December 2, 2012, are laid out for identification by family members at a makeshift hospital at an undisclosed location of the city. Hide Caption 162 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Smoke rises in the Hanano and Bustan al-Basha districts in Aleppo on December 1, 2012 as fighting continues through the night. Hide Caption 163 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Damaged houses in Aleppo are seen after an airstrike on November 29, 2012. Hide Caption 164 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian rebel mourns the death of a comrade in Maraat al-Numan on November 20, 2012. Hide Caption 165 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians protesters stand on Assad's portrait during an anti-regime demonstration in Aleppo on November 16, 2012. Hide Caption 166 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian rebel takes cover during fighting against Syrian government forces in Aleppo on November 15, 2012. Hide Caption 167 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian opposition fighter Bazel Araj, 19, sleeps next to his pistol in Aleppo on November 11, 2012. Hide Caption 168 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter fires at a Syrian government position in Aleppo on November 6, 2012. Hide Caption 169 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian rebel leaps over debris left in the street while running across a "sniper alley" near the Salahudeen district in Aleppo on November 4, 2012. Hide Caption 170 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rebels hold their position in the midst of a battle on November 3, 2012 in Aleppo. Hide Caption 171 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man cries while being treated in a local hospital in a rebel-controlled area of Aleppo on October 31, 2012. Hide Caption 172 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man is treated for wounds after a government jet attacked the Karm al-Aser neighborhood in eastern Aleppo on October 31, 2012. Hide Caption 173 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian rebel interrogates a handcuffed and blindfolded man suspected of being a pro-regime militiaman in Aleppo on October 26, 2012. Hide Caption 174 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Smoke rises from a fuel station following a mortar attack as Syrian women walk on a rainy day in the Arqub neighborhood of Aleppo on October 25, 2012. Hide Caption 175 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian rebel fires at an army position in the Karm al-Jabal district of Aleppo on October 22, 2012. Hide Caption 176 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A wounded Syrian boy sits on the back of a truck carrying victims and wounded people to a hospital following an attack by regime forces in Aleppo on October 21, 2012. Hide Caption 177 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man lies on the ground after being shot by a sniper for a second time as he waits to be rescued by members of the Al-Baraa Bin Malek Battalion, part of the Free Syria Army's Al-Fatah brigade, in Aleppo on October 20, 2012. Hide Caption 178 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian army soldiers run for cover during clashes with rebel fighters at Karam al-Jabal neighborhood of Aleppo on October 20, 2012. Hide Caption 179 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Smoke rises after a Syrian Air Force fighter jet fired missiles at the suburbs of the northern province of Idlib on October 16, 2012. Hide Caption 180 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian opposition fighter stands near a post in Aleppo on October 11, 2012. Hide Caption 181 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian man mourns the death of his father, who was killed during a government attack in Aleppo on October 10, 2012. Hide Caption 182 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel fighter is carried by his friends and laid on a gurney to be treated for gunshot wounds sustained during heavy battles with government forces in Aleppo on October 1, 2012. Hide Caption 183 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian rebels help a wounded comrade to an Aleppo hospital after he was injured in a Syrian army strike on September 18, 2012. Hide Caption 184 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syria Army fighters are reflected in a mirror they use to see a Syrian Army post only 50 meters away in Aleppo on September 16, 2012. Hide Caption 185 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian man carrying grocery bags tries to dodge sniper fire as he runs through an alley near a checkpoint manned by the Free Syria Army in Aleppo on September 14, 2012. Hide Caption 186 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A woman walks past a destroyed building in Aleppo on September 13, 2012. Hide Caption 187 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Free Syrian Army fighters battle during street fighting against Syrian army soldiers in Aleppo on September 8, 2012. Hide Caption 188 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian man wounded by shelling sits on a chair outside a closed shop in Aleppo on September 4, 2012. Hide Caption 189 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A woman sits in her wheelchair next to her house, damaged by a Syrian air raid, near Homs on August 26, 2012. Hide Caption 190 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Members of the Free Syrian Army clash with Syrian army soliders in Aleppo's Saif al-Dawla district on August 22, 2012. Hide Caption 191 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man mourns in front of a field hospital on August 21, 2012 in Aleppo. Hide Caption 193 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Wounded civilians wait in a field hospital after an air strike on August 21, 2012 in Aleppo. Hide Caption 195 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – People pray during the funeral of a Free Syrian Army fighter, Amar Ali Amero, on August 21, 2012. Hide Caption 196 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man cries near the graves of his two children killed during a recent Syrian airstrike in Azaz on August 20, 2012. Hide Caption 197 of 222

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 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian woman holds her dead baby as she screams upon seeing her husband's body being covered following an airstrike by regime forces on the town of Azaz on August 15, 2012. Hide Caption 199 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian rebel runs in a street of Selehattin during an attack on the municipal building on July 23, 2012. Hide Caption 200 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian rebels hunt for snipers after attacking the municipality building in the city center of Selehattin on July 23, 2012. Hide Caption 201 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Members of the Free Syrian Army's Mugaweer (commandos) Brigade pay their respects in a cemetery on May 12, 2012 in Qusayr. Hide Caption 202 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian rebels take position near Qusayr on May 10, 2012. Hide Caption 203 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army member takes cover in underground caves in Sarmin on April 9, 2012. Hide Caption 204 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Rebels prepare to engage government tanks that advanced into Saraquib on April 9, 2012. Hide Caption 205 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Men say prayers during a ceremony in Binnish on April 9, 2012. Hide Caption 206 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A young boy plays with a toy gun in Binnish on April 9, 2012. Hide Caption 207 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Free Syrian Army rebel mounts his horse in the Al-Shatouria village near the Turkish border in northwestern Syria on March 16, 2012, a year after the uprising began. Hide Caption 208 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrian refugees walk across a field before crossing into Turkey on March 14, 2012. Hide Caption 209 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A rebel takes position in Al-Qsair on January 27, 2012. Hide Caption 210 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A protester in Homs throws a tear gas bomb back towards security forces, on December 27, 2011. Hide Caption 211 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A man stands under a giant Syrian flag outside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on December 24, 2011. Hide Caption 212 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A member of the Free Syrian Army looks out over a valley in the village of Ain al-Baida on December 15, 2011. Hide Caption 213 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Members of the Free Syrian Army stand in an valley near the village of Ain al-Baida, close to the Turkish border, on December 15, 2011. Hide Caption 214 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Displaced Syrian refugees walk through an orchard adjacent to Syria's northern border with Turkey on June 14, 2011, near Khirbet al-Jouz. Hide Caption 215 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A Syrian man holds up a portrait of President Bashar al-Assad during a rally to show support for the president in Damascus on April 30, 2011. Hide Caption 216 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians rally to show their support for President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on April 30, 2011. Hide Caption 217 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A screen grab from YouTube shows thick smoke rising above as Syrian anti-government protesters demonstrate in Moaret Al-Noman on April 29, 2011. Hide Caption 218 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A screen grab from YouTube shows Syrian anti-government protesters run for cover from tear gas fired by security forces in Damascus on April 29, 2011, during the "Day of Rage" demonstrations called by activists to put pressure on al-Assad. Hide Caption 219 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – A woman sits by the hospital bed of a man allegedly injured when an armed group seized rooftops in Latakia on March 27, 2011, and opened fire at passers-by, citizens and security forces personnel according to official sources. Hide Caption 220 of 222

 Photos: Unrest in Syria Syrian civil war in photos – Syrians wave their national flag and hold portraits of al-Assad during a rally to show their support for their leader in Damascus on March 29, 2011. Hide Caption 221 of 222 |||||

– Some of Syria's most powerful rebel groups have disavowed the Western-backed National Syrian Coalition's government in exile, in a move that may further complicate efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the country's civil war. Thirteen groups, spearheaded by the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front, released a statement last night declaring that the newly-formed interim government "does not represent or recognize us" and urging their fellow rebels to make Sharia law "the sole source of legislation." Three of the signatories control large amounts of territory, CNN reports. The jihadis aren't the only ones dismissing the opposition government, either. Syria's deputy foreign minister yesterday dismissed the coalition as having little influence, the New York Times reports. He further dimmed the prospect of peace talks by saying the regime wouldn't negotiate with anyone who'd taken up arms against it, though it might talk to religious leaders "who have influence on the ground." Russia, meanwhile, said a peace deal could only be reached if the US stopped calling for Bashar al-Assad's ouster, Reuters reports.