SYRIA: U.N. observers leave Syria as their mission comes to end.

Record ID: 281365

  • Title: SYRIA: U.N. observers leave Syria as their mission comes to end.
  • Date: 19th August 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AUGUST 19, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF UNITED NATIONS (U.N.) OBSERVING MISSION SEATED IN HOTEL LOBBY VARIOUS OF LUGGAGE U.N. OBSERVERS HUGGING EACH OTHER VARIOUS OF OBSERVERS MOVING THEIR LUGGAGE INTO ELEVATOR OBSERVERS CARRYING BACKPACKS STANDING NEAR ELEVATOR ENTRANCE MORE OF OBSERVERS HUGGING EACH OTHER CAR SEEN AT DISTANCE INSIDE HOTEL CA
  • Embargoed: 3rd September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Business,War / Fighting,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC0Q191CK7VSH2RNCV9A79BEO1
  • Story Text: Members of the United Nations (U.N.) Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) began to leave the country on Sunday (August 19), as the four-month mission neared its end.
    The mission's mandate officially expires at midnight on Sunday. By August 23, most of the remaining 100 observers will be gone.
    The 300-strong observer mission was troubled from the beginning, as a result of incessant violence in Syria.
    On Thursday (August 17), the U.N. refused to extend the mandate of the UNSMIS, but it agreed to establish a civilian office in the capital Damascus.
    The U.N. also appointed veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar al-Brahimi as the new special envoy to Syria to replace Kofi Annan, who resigned earlier this month citing incessant violence and the lack of willingness by the battling parties to bring a peaceful end to the simmering crisis.
    On Saturday (August 18), Babacar Gaye, head of the UNSMIS, said he was frustrated the mission's main goal in achieving the full cessation of violence was not accomplished, but he expressed comfort that the U.N. presence in Syria would continue, despite the ending of its mission.
    Gaye said the U.N. remained committed to ending the violence and promoting dialogue among all parties.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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