SYRIA: United Nations observers head to the Damascus suburb of Qatana

Record ID: 280876

  • Title: SYRIA: United Nations observers head to the Damascus suburb of Qatana
  • Date: 14th June 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF OBSERVERS TALKING AND WAITING IN HOTEL LOBBY
  • Embargoed: 29th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8PDT88G0ZE1RKBRY1K2FN1VII
  • Story Text: A team of United Nations monitors headed to the Damascus suburb of Qatana on Wednesday (June 13), one of the hotspots where violence is believed to be on-going between rebel fighters and Syrian forces.
    The UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) said that angry crowds threw stones and metal rods at UN observers as they tried to reach the Syrian town of Haffeh on Tuesday (June 12), and three UN vehicles were fired upon as they left the area. The rebel Syrian Free Army said it withdrew from the Sunni Muslim town later on Tuesday under pressure from bombardment by Assad's forces, leaving thousands of civilians without protection.
    Activists say Syrian forces have been battling hundreds of rebel fighters and the United States has warned of a potential massacre.
    The International Red Cross said the situation was deteriorating in several parts of Syria simultaneously as fighting intensifies.
    Many hundreds of people, including civilians, rebels and members of Assad's army and security forces, have been killed since a ceasefire deal brokered by international mediator Kofi Annan two months ago was supposed to halt the bloodshed.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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