SYRIA: United Nations monitors visit the restive city of Idlib, scene of violent clashes between army and the rebels

Record ID: 280725

  • Title: SYRIA: United Nations monitors visit the restive city of Idlib, scene of violent clashes between army and the rebels
  • Date: 10th May 2012
  • Summary: IDLIB, SYRIA (MAY 9, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IDLIB THE HOTEL AND THE U.N. CARS U.N. SIGN ON A CAR THE MONITORS NEXT TO THE CARS THE CARS THE MONITORS TALKING TO EACH OTHER SYRIAN SOLIDER WEARING BULLETPROOF VEST MORE OF THE U.N. CARS SYRIAN SOLIDER TALKING TO THE MONITORS VARIOUS OF SYRIAN SECURITY CAR THAT ACCOMPANIES THE U.N. CONVOY CONVOY LEAVING TRAVELL
  • Embargoed: 25th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAF2W6PADPSP1M360R8617NYBCF
  • Story Text: A group of United Nations ceasefire monitors on Wednesday (May 9) visited the city of Idlib in northern Syria. The province of Idlib has seen violence which the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) amounted to civil war.
    ICRC said on Tuesday (May 8) the conflict in the province of Idlib and in Homs had met the agency's three criteria of a non-international armed conflict - intensity, duration and the level of organisation of rebels fighting government forces.
    Local authorities said the situation in the city itself was under control.
    "I tell you that the centre of the Idlib is as you see it -- calm and safe, everything is normal. You see people in the streets and markets. Despite some trouble in some areas caused by those who act illegally but in general, the situation in the city is acceptable," Yasser al-Choufy, Idlib governor said.
    But local residents said the situation was far from calm.
    "For the past year and a half nobody knows what is happening. We sleep and wake up in fear. Some people say the government is responsible while others say the armed groups are responsible. We want to know who is responsible for those events. Who is doing it. Now there are explosions. Everybody is afraid. The check points are here. We can't eat or drink. We are scared," Wafa Baaj, a local resident said.
    Fifty U.N. observers are now in Syria and, despite their presence, activists report that dozens of people are killed almost every day and there has been a recent spate of bombings targeting state security.
    Earlier on Wednesday a large explosion hit cars accompanying United Nations ceasefire monitors in the southern province of Deraa, injuring eight Syrian guards. Major General Robert Mood, the head of the U.N. monitors, was in the team's convoy but there were no reports of any of the observers being wounded.
    Last month, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorising the deployment of up to 300 unarmed military observers to Syria for three months to help bolster a ceasefire agreement that both sides are accused of ignoring.
    But the sustained violence, nearly four weeks after a ceasefire deal was brokered by international mediator Kofi Annan, has led to warnings this week from the Red Cross, Arab League and Annan himself that Syria is slipping into civil war.
    About 9,000 people have been killed by Syrian forces, the U.N. says, and Damascus claims insurgents have killed 2,600 police and security force personnel.
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