SYRIA: Six Chinese U.N. military observers join monitoring mission in Syria as violence continues in north

Record ID: 280822

  • Title: SYRIA: Six Chinese U.N. military observers join monitoring mission in Syria as violence continues in north
  • Date: 15th May 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (MAY 14, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE UNITED NATIONS OBSERVERS ARRIVING AT HOTEL VARIOUS OF MONITORS TAKING OFF THEIR HELMETS AND JACKETS JOURNALISTS ENTERING THE HOTEL VARIOUS OF THE OBSERVERS STANDING BY THE DOOR OF THE ELEVATOR ELEVATOR DOOR CLOSING WITH OBSERVERS INSIDE U.N. CHINESE OBSERVERS ARRIVING AT HOTEL VARIOUS OF CHINESE OBSERVERS RECEI
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACU5TE4FGV5PYVGK55ENBJVVHF
  • Story Text: A group of U.N. observers visited Douma and Harasta, on Monday (May 14) while another group headed to the north of the country in order to increase the number of monitors deployed in hotspots.
    Six Chinese U.N. military observers arrived in Syria from Beijing to join those already in the country and were greeted by their colleagues at a Damascus hotel.
    There are 250 monitors of different nationalities, including civilian observers, in Syria to observe a fragile ceasefire announced in April, Hassan Silkawi, United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) spokesman told reporters earlier.
    The U.N. monitoring mission aims to deploy 300 monitors across Syria by the end of May under Kofi 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.
    Twenty-three Syrian soldiers were killed in the town of Rastan on Monday in heavy clashes with rebels who destroyed three armoured personnel carriers, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
    Earlier, opposition sources said nine people, including a local rebel commander, were killed in heavy army shelling of Rastan.
    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.
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