World in brief: House arrest appeal denied

YANGON, Myanmar – The highest court in military-ruled Myanmar dismissed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s latest bid for freedom Friday, turning down an appeal to end 14 years of house arrest, diplomats said.

The Supreme Court’s decision had been expected, since legal rulings in Myanmar rarely favor opposition activists.

Lawyers for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate appealed to the court last November after a lower court a month earlier upheld a decision to sentence her to 18 months of house arrest. She was convicted last August of violating the terms of her previous detention by briefly sheltering an American who swam to her lakeside home.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won elections in 1990 by a landslide, but the military, which has ruled Myanmar since 1962, refused to cede power and has constantly obstructed her party’s operations over the past two decades.

Syrian president sticks by Iran

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syrian President Bashar Assad defied U.S. calls to loosen ties with Iran on Thursday, saying his long-standing alliance with Tehran remains strong despite overtures from Washington intended to shift his loyalties.

The U.S. has reached out to Syria in recent months by nominating the first U.S. ambassador to Damascus since 2005 and sending top diplomats to meet with President Bashar Assad. Washington is hoping to draw Syria away from Iran and the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas.

But with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by his side in Damascus, Assad said Thursday that America should not dictate relationships in the Middle East.

“I find it strange how they talk about Middle East stability and at the same time talk about dividing two countries,” Assad said.

Turkish pop star detained in raid

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s state-run news agency says police have detained Tarkan, Turkey’s best-known pop star who makes top music charts worldwide, along with some other entertainers in Istanbul.

The Anatolia news agency says Tarkan, who only uses one name, was detained in a police raid early Friday. Police are questioning him and the others. No charges have been filed.

The pop star has sold millions of records and reached the top of music charts in France in 1998.