SYRIA: UNSMIS concerned with escalating violence in Syria

Record ID: 280933

  • Title: SYRIA: UNSMIS concerned with escalating violence in Syria
  • Date: 12th June 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JUNE 11, 2012) (REUTERS) SAUSAN GHOSHEH, UNSMIS SPOKESWOMAN, WALKING TO BRIEFING VARIOUS OF GHOSHEH PREPARING TO READ STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS SUPERVISION MISSION IN SYRIA (UNSMIS) SPOKESWOMAN, SAUSAN GHOSHEH, SAYING: "We managed to… UN observers are reporting there was heavy fighting in Rastan and Talbiseh. They reported the us
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADRFQJ0MDW46YTPK17S9UW2PGT
  • Story Text: United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) expressed concern on Monday (June 11) over the shelling of the Syrian opposition stronghold of Homs, Talbiseh, Rastan and Khaldiya.
    Speaking to journalists in Damascus, UNSMIS spokeswoman Sausan Ghosheh called on all sides to halt the violence to ensure civilian safety.
    "UN observers are reporting there was heavy fighting in Rastan and Talbiseh. They reported the use of heavy artillery and mortar shelling as well as firing from helicopters, machine guns and small arms. In Talbiseh UN observers reported that the Free Syrian Army captured members, soldiers from the Syrian army. The impact of the heavy artillery shelling and machinegun firing was also heard and seen from over Khaldiya and the city centre. UNSMIS also received reports that a large number of civilians are trapped inside the town, and we're trying to mediate their evacuation to a safe place. UN observers are not yet able to confirm the reported number of large scale killings and casualties in the city, but we call on all sides to immediately halt all kinds of violence to ensure the protection of civilians, to allow for their evacuation to safe areas. We also call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to facilitate the entry of the UN observers into conflict zones," said Ghosheh, reading a statement that was distributed later to the media.
    Activists said the Syrian army used artillery, mortars and rockets to hit opposition strongholds in the city of Homs and the towns of Qusair, Talbiseh and Rastan in central Syria.
    Free Syrian Army rebels had been intensifying attacks in the area, the Syrian Network for Human Rights and local opposition campaigners said.
    United Nations' efforts to bring peace to Syria - where a 15-month-old uprising against Assad has turned increasingly violent - have largely come to nothing, with both sides blaming the other for breaking the ceasefire.
    Governmental forces have killed at least 10,000 people, according to U.N. figures. The Assad government puts its own losses at more than 2,600 dead. Assad has blamed unspecified foreign-backed terrorists for the violence.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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