SYRIA: U.N. peace observers leave their base in Damascus to monitor Syria truce, as international pressure grows on Russia and China to allow tougher action by the U.N. Security Council

Record ID: 280820

  • Title: SYRIA: U.N. peace observers leave their base in Damascus to monitor Syria truce, as international pressure grows on Russia and China to allow tougher action by the U.N. Security Council
  • Date: 1st June 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (MAY 31, 2012) (REUTERS) U.N. VEHICLES OUTSIDE HOTEL U.N. SIGN ON THE BACK OF CAR U.N. OBSERVERS WALKING OUT OF HOTEL VARIOUS OF OBSERVERS PREPARING FOR MISSION NEXT THEIR VEHICLE MORE OF VEHICLE CLOSE OF LETTER ON VEHICLE CLOSE OF DAMAGE ON BONNET OF VEHICLE AFTER BEING HIT BY BULLET PREVIOUSLY CLOSE OF OBSERVER SEATED INSIDE CAR VARIOUS OF CONVOY
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7D8EEVZA85IDH2VH82P1XUDJK
  • Story Text: A group of U.N. observers in Syria headed to Douma, a suburb in Damascus, on Thursday (May 31), for fresh field visits to monitor peace a day after international mediator Kofi Annan's deputy, Jean-Marie Guehenno, gave the 15-nation of the U.N. Security Council a bleak assessment of the impact of Annan's efforts to halt the violence in Syria.
    U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said there were three ways the Syrian conflict could end.
    The first would be if Syrian President Bashar-al Assad's government decided to comply with its obligations under Annan's six-point peace plan - stopping its military assaults on Syrian towns, withdrawing heavy weapons, returning troops to barracks and talking with the opposition on a "political transition." The second option would involve the Council taking action to pressure Damascus to fully comply with the Annan plan.
    Neither of those scenarios appear likely because Damascus has shown no interest in living up to its commitments and Russia has made clear that any Security Council moves to step up the pressure on Assad's government through sanctions are out of the question.
    Rice warned that the most likely scenario would be that the violence would escalate and spread in the region.
    Responding to Rice's remarks, Syria's ambassador to the U.N., Bashar Ja'afari said, that the Syrian government remained committed to implementing Kofi Annan's plan, adding other parties were keen to cast doubt on the validity and viability of Annan's peace plan.
    The United Nations said 108 people were killed in the May 25 massacre in Houla, including many children, likely by government forces and militia. The events are disputed. The West blames Assad's forces, while Syria accuses its opponents, whom it refers to as Islamist "terrorists".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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