A Syrian court has sentenced a leading dissident to 12 years in prison on charges of undermining national security. The judge said he had encouraged foreign countries to attack Syria. Kamal Labwani was arrested in 2005 after he returned to Damascus from a visit to Europe and the United States, where he met with White House officials. Mr Labwani is founder of the Liberal Democratic Union, which works to promote democracy in Syria. Last month, human rights activists reported that he was being held underground in the dark and his health was deteriorating rapidly. The United States has appealed to...