U.N. Official: Syria Resuming Violence as Monitors Leave
The Syrian military is halting violence in areas entered by U.N. observers but resumes shooting once the monitors leave, a spokesman for the U.N. special envoy to Syria said Tuesday, citing “credible reports.”
The news came on a day of continuing violence in Syria that resulted in at least 35 deaths, opposition activists said.
U.N. monitors, who are in the country during what’s supposed to be a cease-fire, are “entering areas where there has been conflict like Homs and Hama, and when they go, the guns are silent,” said Ahmad Fawzi, spokesman for Kofi Annan, the U.N.-Arab League joint special envoy to the country.
“We have credible reports that when they leave, exchanges start again, that these people who approach the observers may be approached by security forces or Syrian army and harassed or, even worse, killed,” Fawzi told the U.N. Security Council.
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“This is totally unacceptable, and it just underlined the risks involved not only to the Syrian people themselves and civilians — men, women, children — but also to the U.N. observers. This is a risky venture, but it is one that we must undertake.”
Fawzi said Annan wants a stronger U.N. presence with “the ability to be present in most places at the same time. With 11 or 12 monitors, you can’t be everywhere, and there are many cities that have seen destruction and have seen fighting that we need to be present at. With up to 300, we will be able to monitor more cities than two or three at a time.”
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed dismay over Fawzi’s account.
“It is absolutely deplorable if there is this kind of intimidation and harassment and possible violence against those Syrians who have every right to meet with and discuss the situation with the monitors,” she said.
“The Syrian government made a commitment to not only permit the U.N. monitoring mission to move forward but to work on the Kofi Annan plan. We expect them to comply.”
Clinton said U.S. officials were preparing “additional steps” in case the violence continues or if the monitors are prevented from doing their work.
The council recently authorized sending up to 300 monitors for 90 days.