Syria

Greece is to begin vaccinating young refugees from Syria against polio because of fears that the infectious disease, which was officially wiped out more than a decade ago, may be reintroduced to the country by people fleeing the war-torn state.

A twin suicide attack in Syria's province of Hama took the lives of at least 18 people, 11 of which children, according to state media reports.

The two explosions, which were described as "terrorist"-originated, were in villages which are presently under government control, as the BBC reports.

A Syrian refugee family has found comfort and acceptance in the southern Bulgarian village of Krushevo.

Jeilan and her 18-year old son and 14-year old daughter escaped the horror of Syria's civil war 7 months ago. The mother is still mourning the loss of her 8-month old baby, whose life could have been saved if there had been adequate medical treatment.

Girls are 'cannon fodder' for Islamic extremists fighting in Syria, experts say

Analysts say extremists are targeting young women when looking for new recruits to join the fighting in Syria.

CAPTION

Syrian refugees have been facing discrimination from the inhabitants of Rozovo, a Bulgarian village, according to the National Ombudsman.

Penchev's comments came after three Syrian families were forced to leave Rozovo, a village in Central Bulgaria, following calls by locals that they go away until Monday.

Syria is to hold presidential elections on June 3, its Parliament Speaker announced.

Voting for Syrians outside the country, whose number has considerably increased amid an ongoing civil war, will be on May 28, according to Al Jazeera English.

Austria will receive an extra 1000 Syrian refugees in addition to the quota of 500 announced in August 2013, according to Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

Two thirds of the rebel fighters in Syria are citizens of European countries, says a report of the London-based International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation. 

According to the report, entitled "Greenbirds: Measuring importance and influence in Syrian Foreign Fighter Networks'", around 10% of the foreign fighters are from Eastern Europe, Bulgaria included. 

The traveling photo exhibition "I Have a Dream", dedicated to the Syrian refugee children in Bulgaria, was launched at the 18th school "William Gladstone" in Sofia on Monday.

“Those who have sacrificed their lives, whether in Kosovo, Syria or in another country, for good causes, for freedom and democracy, may Allah bless them and I would like to send my deepest condolences to their families,” Ramadani told the news portal Presheva Jone.