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The United States says military and diplomatic defections in Syria show a continuing "momentum building" against President Bashar al-Assad. The White House said Thursday that desperation is growing within Assad's government. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling for tougher U.N. action against Damascus.

The United States is imposing more sanctions on Iran and taking steps to stop Iran from using front companies and banks to evade sanctions.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery fire a rocket from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System as part of training at Fort McCoy, Wisc. Elements of the battalion are preparing for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

DRC army soldiers stand guard during a military operation to strike M23 positions close to Rutshuru in eastern North Kivu province.

Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the League of Arab States on Syria, speaks to the press in Geneva.

Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the League of Arab States on the Syrian Crisis.

As Syria's main opposition coalition prepares to send a high-level delegation to Moscow, Russia appeared to signal it may eventually distance itself from President Bashar al-Assad's embattled government.

Egypt's new president briefly reconvened parliament Tuesday in defiance of the military, which dissolved the legislature last month based on a high court order. Afterwards, Egypt's highest court has overruled Mohamed Morsi's decision to recall the Islamist-led parliament that was dissolved by the nation's military leaders last month.

Army Sgt. Jason Brassfield, with the Mississippi Army National Guard's 288th Sapper Company, instructs Afghan National Army 1st Lt. Ismatullah, of Route Clearance Company, 4th Brigade, 205th Corps, on the controls of the Talon Robot during a route clearance mission in Uruzgan province Afghanistan, July 7, 2012. The interpreters face has been blurred for security reasons.

Egypt's newly elected president Mohamed Morsi appears on a collision course with the country's powerful military generals after ordering the parliament to reconvene, in defiance of a high court decree last month that dissolved the legislature.