SYRIA: U.N. monitors continue Syria departure

Record ID: 281375

  • Title: SYRIA: U.N. monitors continue Syria departure
  • Date: 23rd August 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AUGUST 23, 2012) (REUTERS) U.N. VEHICLES OUTSIDE HOTEL BANNER READING IN ARABIC "SYRIA, YOU WILL NOT KNEEL. WE LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR COUNTRY" HOTEL WORKERS GATHERING LUGGAGE OF OBSERVERS LUGGAGE ON TROLLEY VARIOUS OF OBSERVERS PREPARING TO LEAVE CHIEF OF THE MILITARY STAFF PREPARING TO LEAVE LUGGAGE ON TROLLEY (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8BSBBLNEVLB2N7N6AUV0777SR
  • Story Text: With new clashes erupting in Damascus, United Nations monitors continue to leave Syria.
    U.N. observers in Syria continued to leave Damascus on Thursday (August 23) after a four-month mission in which they became helpless spectators of Syria's spiralling conflict.
    The mission suspended operations in June after monitors came under fire and most have already departed, leaving a small liaison office in the capital in case a chance for a political settlement to the bloodshed ever emerges. Four military observers and fifty civilians are expected to staff the Damascus office.
    The mandate of the monitoring mission, known as UNSMIS, expired on Sunday (August 19). The last of the departing monitors are due to leave by Friday (August 24).
    Meanwhile, clashes broke out in Damascus on Thursday as Syrian government forces fired mortar rounds on rebel positions, activists said, in what they described as some of the heaviest fighting in the capital this month.
    Hundreds of residents have been displaced due to fighting in the city, and many have taken shelter in mosques and schools in calmer areas. But some of those displaced are being asked to leave their places of refuge, said an activist who gave his name only as Tareq, of the Revolution Leadership Council of Damascus.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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