SYRIA: U.N. ceasefire monitors deploy to Syrian hotspots

Record ID: 280756

  • Title: SYRIA: U.N. ceasefire monitors deploy to Syrian hotspots
  • Date: 15th May 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (MAY 14, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF U.N. OBSERVERS BY THE DOOR OF ROTANA HOTEL U.N. OBSERVERS IN THE HOTEL WAITING FOR THE BUS COLONEL AHMAD HIMMICHE, HEAD OF THE INITIAL U.N. TEAM IN SYRIA OPENING DOOR OF VEHICLE U.N. OBSERVERS BY U.N. VEHICLES VARIOUS OF U.N. OBSERVERS GETTING IN BUS U.N. SIGN BUS LEAVING SYRIAN FLAGS OUTSIDE HOTEL DAMAS ROSE HOTE
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA460F9QS4BG962NE2FQ8YPMEYJ
  • Story Text: U.N. Supervision Observers started a new day on Monday (May 14) by setting off on field visits to the hotspots in Syria.
    The monitors, from different nationalities, are in Syria to observe a fragile ceasefire announced on April.
    China announced that six Chinese U.N. military observers had left Beijing on Monday to join 189 observers in the country.
    The observers had held a field visit on Sunday to the north.
    Syria urged international mediator Kofi Annan to take "tangible action" against "armed groups" on Saturday (May 12) as an official funeral was held for 55 people killed in twin suicide bombings in the capital.
    The attack, by two suicide car bombers on Thursday (May 10), state media said, killed 55 people and wounded 372. It was the deadliest attack in the capital since the uprising against Assad began 14 months ago.
    The U.N. monitoring mission aims to deploy 300 monitors across Syria by the end of May under Annan's plan, which seeks to end more than a year of bloodshed by disengaging opposing armed forces, launching political dialogue and ensuring free access to Syria for humanitarian aid and journalists.
    The U.N. says Syrian forces have killed more than 9,000 people since March last year. Authorities said militants have killed 2,600 soldiers and security force members.
    Syria has barred most independent journalists from the country, making it is difficult to verify reports of attacks and casualties.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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