UN Syria mission halted
Source: Agencies |
June 17, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
UNITED Nations observers monitoring the turmoil in Syria suspended operations yesterday in response to escalating violence which threatens to kill off a tattered peace plan brokered by international mediator Kofi Annan.
General Robert Mood said that the relentless bloodshed in Syria posed a threat to his unarmed observers, one of whose patrols was fired upon four days ago, and prevented them from carrying out their mandate to monitor Annan's widely ignored April 12 cease-fire.
"There has been an intensification of armed violence across Syria over the past 10 days," Mood said in statement.
"The lack of willingness by the parties to seek a peaceful transition, and the push towards advancing military positions is increasing the losses on both sides."
Mood is expected to brief the UN Security Council tomorrow about the situation in Syria, which the head of UN peacekeeping said this week was now in the throes of a full-scale civil war.
The five veto-wielding Security Council members are expected to have discussions on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Mexico, which starts tomorrow, aimed at breaking deadlock on the issue of international sanctions against Syria.
Mood said the violence posed "significant risks" to the 300 unarmed members of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, who have been operating there since late April. "In this high-risk situation, UNSMIS is suspending its activities. UN observers will not be conducting patrols."
General Robert Mood said that the relentless bloodshed in Syria posed a threat to his unarmed observers, one of whose patrols was fired upon four days ago, and prevented them from carrying out their mandate to monitor Annan's widely ignored April 12 cease-fire.
"There has been an intensification of armed violence across Syria over the past 10 days," Mood said in statement.
"The lack of willingness by the parties to seek a peaceful transition, and the push towards advancing military positions is increasing the losses on both sides."
Mood is expected to brief the UN Security Council tomorrow about the situation in Syria, which the head of UN peacekeeping said this week was now in the throes of a full-scale civil war.
The five veto-wielding Security Council members are expected to have discussions on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Mexico, which starts tomorrow, aimed at breaking deadlock on the issue of international sanctions against Syria.
Mood said the violence posed "significant risks" to the 300 unarmed members of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, who have been operating there since late April. "In this high-risk situation, UNSMIS is suspending its activities. UN observers will not be conducting patrols."
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