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BBC MUNDO RADIO
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
More than 100 deserters and civilians were also reported to have been killed on Monday. (Reuters)
Syria, which held war games on Tuesday to test preparedness against an invasion, accused the opposition of pushing for foreign intervention and of trying to sabotage an Arab-brokered deal that allows observers on the ground, but ignoring calls for dialogue.
Reacting to reports of hundreds of civilians being killed this week, the SNC called for an “emergency U.N. Security Council session to discuss the regime’s massacres in Zawiyah mountain, Idlib, and Homs, in particular.”
It also appealed for an “emergency meeting for the Arab League to condemn the bloody massacres... and cooperate with the United Nations in taking the necessary measures to protect Syrian civilians”.
The SNC, a major umbrella group of factions opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, reported “250 fallen heroes during a 48-hour period.”
It urged the Security Council to
declare the cities and towns under attack “‘safe zones’ that enjoy
international protection; and force the regime’s forces to withdraw from
said areas.”
It also said Jabal al-Zawiyah, Idlib and Homs should be declared disaster areas and urged the International Red Crescent and other relief organizations to provide humanitarian aid.
France denounced what it said was the “unprecedented massacre” and urged Russia to accelerate talks for a U.N. Security Council resolution on the crisis.
French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said: “Everything must be put in motion to end this murderous spiral into which Bashar al-Assad is dragging his people, deeper each day.”
Russia has proposed a Security Council resolution that would denounce violence from both sides.
France has called this “unacceptable”, seeking instead a resolution that would directly pin the blame for the violence on the regime and threaten strong international sanctions on Damascus.
The SNC’s strongly worded statement came after a rights group said Assad forces carried out a “massacre” by killing 111 civilians in the northwestern town of Kafruwed on Tuesday.
The revised toll brings to 123 the number of civilian deaths across Syria for Tuesday, the majority in Idlib province and 12 in the central city of Homs.
In addition, at least 100 army deserters were killed or wounded in Idlib on Tuesday, the Observatory said, adding 14 that security force members were killed in southern Daraa province, cradle of the nine-month uprising against Assad.
More than 100 deserters and civilians were also reported to have been killed on Monday.
It also said Jabal al-Zawiyah, Idlib and Homs should be declared disaster areas and urged the International Red Crescent and other relief organizations to provide humanitarian aid.
France denounced what it said was the “unprecedented massacre” and urged Russia to accelerate talks for a U.N. Security Council resolution on the crisis.
French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said: “Everything must be put in motion to end this murderous spiral into which Bashar al-Assad is dragging his people, deeper each day.”
Russia has proposed a Security Council resolution that would denounce violence from both sides.
France has called this “unacceptable”, seeking instead a resolution that would directly pin the blame for the violence on the regime and threaten strong international sanctions on Damascus.
The SNC’s strongly worded statement came after a rights group said Assad forces carried out a “massacre” by killing 111 civilians in the northwestern town of Kafruwed on Tuesday.
The revised toll brings to 123 the number of civilian deaths across Syria for Tuesday, the majority in Idlib province and 12 in the central city of Homs.
In addition, at least 100 army deserters were killed or wounded in Idlib on Tuesday, the Observatory said, adding 14 that security force members were killed in southern Daraa province, cradle of the nine-month uprising against Assad.
More than 100 deserters and civilians were also reported to have been killed on Monday.
Team heading to Damascus
Since Syria signed the protocol, it has been fully
committed to facilitating the mission of the Arab League which will come
to see the reality of the crisis
Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi
The latest wave of violence comes as an
advance Arab League team prepares to head to Damascus on Thursday to
pave the way for some 500 observers.
“Since Syria signed the protocol, it has been fully committed to facilitating the mission of the Arab League which will come to see the reality of the crisis,” foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi told AFP.
“Unfortunately, the Syrian opposition is trying to sabotage the protocol and is seeking to push for foreign intervention rather than accept the call to dialogue,” he added.
The observer mission is part of an Arab peace plan endorsed by Syria on November 2, which also calls for withdrawal of the military from towns and residential districts, a halt to violence and the release of detainees.
Syria has failed to convince either the opposition or Western governments pushing for tough U.N. action that it is willing to follow up its words with deeds.
On Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said “a signature on a piece of paper from a regime like this, that has broken promise after promise after promise, means relatively little to us.”
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said the Arab League needs to show its observers are “independent and able to work effectively” to dispel “well-founded fears of yet another Syrian stalling tactic.”
Syria blames the unrest on “armed terrorist groups” – not peaceful protesters as maintained by Western powers and rights groups.
Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said he expected the observers to vindicate Damascus’ claims.
“Since Syria signed the protocol, it has been fully committed to facilitating the mission of the Arab League which will come to see the reality of the crisis,” foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi told AFP.
“Unfortunately, the Syrian opposition is trying to sabotage the protocol and is seeking to push for foreign intervention rather than accept the call to dialogue,” he added.
The observer mission is part of an Arab peace plan endorsed by Syria on November 2, which also calls for withdrawal of the military from towns and residential districts, a halt to violence and the release of detainees.
Syria has failed to convince either the opposition or Western governments pushing for tough U.N. action that it is willing to follow up its words with deeds.
On Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said “a signature on a piece of paper from a regime like this, that has broken promise after promise after promise, means relatively little to us.”
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said the Arab League needs to show its observers are “independent and able to work effectively” to dispel “well-founded fears of yet another Syrian stalling tactic.”
Syria blames the unrest on “armed terrorist groups” – not peaceful protesters as maintained by Western powers and rights groups.
Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said he expected the observers to vindicate Damascus’ claims.
Iranians kidnapped
The five were kidnapped on Wednesday at 0630 a.m. while heading to their work place ... We demand their immediate release
Iranian embassy statement
The embassy “has called on the kidnappers to immediately release” the technicians, Mehr said.
The five were taken early on Wednesday as they were on their way to work on the project in Homs, a western city that is a major flashpoint for the unrest that has gripped Syria, according to the report.
“The five were kidnapped on Wednesday at 0630 a.m. while heading to their work place ... We demand their immediate release,” Mehr quoted a statement issued by the embassy in Damascus.
Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that eight engineers “of different nationalities” disappeared after heading by bus to their work at a power plant in Homs province.
Iran, Syria’s closest regional ally, has welcomed Syria’s agreement this week to admit Arab League monitors to oversee its implementation of a plan aimed at ending unrest in Syria.
Kidnappings and killings based on religious identity are increasingly common in protest flashpoints such as Homs, sparking international and regional concerns that strife could lead to sustained sectarian bloodshed in Syria.
The United Nations has said more than 5,000 people have been killed in Assad’s crackdown on nine months of protests inspired by street uprisings in the Arab world that have overthrown the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
Several weeks ago Damascus said 1,100 members of the security forces had been killed by “armed terrorist gangs”.
In other developments, a Syria correspondent for Lebanese daily As-Safir, considered supportive of the Syrian regime, was detained at a rally against Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, an editor said on Wednesday.
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