TURKEY: The opposition Syrian National Council says President Bashar al-Assad's government wants the U.N. observer mission to fail so it can crack down on dissent within the country

Record ID: 280737

  • Title: TURKEY: The opposition Syrian National Council says President Bashar al-Assad's government wants the U.N. observer mission to fail so it can crack down on dissent within the country
  • Date: 11th May 2012
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (MAY 10, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SAMIR NASHAR SAYING: "This is up to Mr Annan, and whether he decides to announce that his initiative has reached a dead end because the Syrian regime has not respected its requirements."
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Conflict,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAF37TQ7MEAB04SW5WX8JQ157EL
  • Story Text: Two suicide car bombers killed 55 people and wounded 372 in Damascus on Thursday (May 10), state media said, in the deadliest attacks in the Syrian capital since an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began 14 months ago.
    The blasts further shredded a ceasefire which was declared by international mediator Kofi Annan on April 12, but which has failed to halt bloodshed pitting Assad's security forces against peaceful demonstrators and an array of armed insurgents.
    Samir Nashar from the opposition Syrian National Council said the Syrian government was trying to derail the U.N. mission.
    "We hold the Syrian regime fully responsible. We believe that the Syrian regime is trying, through these messages, to cause the international monitors to fail in their mission, because it views this mission as standing in the way of implementing repressive actions against the Syrian people," Nashar said speaking in Turkey.
    Syrian state television blamed "terrorists" for the attacks. No group has claimed responsibility.
    Samir Nashar said it was up to Kofi Annan to decide if his peace plan had failed.
    "This is up to Mr Annan, and whether he decides to announce that his initiative has reached a dead end because the Syrian regime has not respected its requirements."
    Opposition leaders said Annan's peace plan was dead, while Western powers insisted it remained the best way forward.
    Annan himself condemned the "abhorrent" bombings and urged all parties to halt violence and protect civilians.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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