EGYPT: Members of the Syrian National Council demand that Arab countries take a position to help implement the ceasefire initiative

Record ID: 276361

  • Title: EGYPT: Members of the Syrian National Council demand that Arab countries take a position to help implement the ceasefire initiative
  • Date: 27th April 2012
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (APRIL 26, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE HEADQUARTER OF THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES (LAS) LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES EMBLEM FLAGS OF ARAB COUNTRIES WATER FOUNTAIN VARIOUS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERALS OF THE LAS, NABIL AL-ARABI, WITH MEMBERS OF THE SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL SPOKESPERSON OF THE SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, BASMA KODMANI, GIVE A STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (
  • Embargoed: 12th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt, Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVA1KU29U9XHBXELAWR9KGULE6C2
  • Story Text: Syrian opposition leaders met on Thursday (April 26) with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Nabil al-Arabi, in Cairo demanding an affective Arab position on the Syrian ceasefire - part of a joint United Nations and Arab League peace initiative led by former UN chief Kofi Annan.
    The brutal crack down continues despite a UN brokered ceasefire, al-Assad's armed vehicles and tanks remain scattered in various Syrian cities, and the Syrian National Council (SNC) has asked for more monitors on the ground to watch the ceasefire.
    "They (The League of Arab Nations) should have a clear position. We also demanded that the United Nation are not slow in fielding more of its monitors. Speeding up a decision after it becomes clear that the regime is not respecting the cease fire initiative," spokesperson for the SNC, Basma Kodmani said.
    "We understood that ceasing fire meant to withdraw heavy armed vehicles from all cities to be sent back to the barracks. If there is any other interpretation for the meaning of a ceasefire, it will be the regime's view not ours. But the regime is incredible. The joint understanding between the Arab League and the Syrian opposition is for armed vehicles and tanks to be withdrawn back to their barracks," she added.
    Abdulbaset Sieda, another member of the NTC said that Assad was vowing to adhere to the cease fire, but on the ground that was notr true and fighting continued.
    "The regime has vowed or claimed it will cease fire.....the regime is vowing in front of the international community to do something, but on ground the regime is doing the opposite," Sieda said.
    The Arab league has vowed to provide the Syrian opposition parties with all possible forms of political and material support.
    The Arab league has vowed to provide the Syrian opposition h suffers a split, with all possible forms of political and material support.
    "There are sort of fears on Kofi Annan's group, because Kofi Annan's group is not clearly responding to our questions. It is impossible that we accept the consumption of that scheduled plan of killing civilians in Syria; however, the regime vowed or claimed it will cease fire," member of the Syrian National Council, Abdulbaset Sieda told Reuters on Thursday.
    The Syrian public uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, in which United Nations announced that up to 5,000 people have died so far, is considered one of the most bloodiest revolts of the Arab Spring triggered in Tunisia last year.
    "The joint understanding between the Arab League and the Syrian opposition is the necessary of sending back the armed vehicles and tanks to their barracks," the Spokesperson of Syrian National Council, Basma Kodmani, said on Thursday.
    Syrian opposition leaders demanded the Arab Countries send more cease fire monitors - Arabic speakers - said sending only hundred observers on the Syrian ground is not enough and insufficient. The opposition asked the help of the UN to cover the Syrian cities with more monitors.
    "We also demanded the United Nation not be slow in fielding more of its monitors. Speeding up a decision [to ceasefire] after it becomes clear that the regime is not respecting the initiative of ceasing fire," Kodmani added.
    The Arab League is scheduled to hold a ministerial meeting on Thursday afternoon on the latest developments in Syria.
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