UN authorizes 300 cease-fire observers for Syria, demands immediate halt to violence

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

By Associated Press, Saturday, April 21, 11:27 AM

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution expanding the number of U.N. observers in Syria from 30 to 300 and demanding an immediate halt to the violence that has been escalating since a cease-fire took effect over a week ago.

The resolution approved Saturday gives Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon authority to decide when to deploy the additional observers, based on developments on the grounds including “the consolidation of the cease-fire.”

Ban accused Syrian President Bashar Assad Thursday of failing to honor the cease-fire, expressing dismay at the upsurge in violence.

The resolution merges rival Russian and European texts and dropped a European threat of non-military sanctions if Syria fails to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from towns and cities.


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/un-authorizes-300-cease-fire-observers-for-syria-demands-immediate-halt-to-violence/2012/04/21/gIQAjKtsXT_story.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. I don't see how this can be anything but a fight to the death.

The Sunnis want Assad's head on a pike, and he is determined it ain't gonna happen. His forces will kill as many as necessary, and then some.

The best case scenario is some sort of negotiated reforms and power-sharing, but who believes that will happen?

Either Assad crushes the revolt and Syria descends into sullen silence for another few years, or civil war goes on for years.

[riderinthestorm]

2. I agree. Shia Iran and the rest of the Shia minority in the area also back Assad

against the allied Sunni community ranged against them. With Russia and China providing Syria's regime with a firewall, Assad has every incentive to take this to "the death" as you say.

Really troubling.

[David__77]

5. Why "sullen silence?"

I don't think so. Many Syrians would be happy if peace and security are fully restored. A peaceful evolution is entirely possible.

[BadtotheboneBob]

3. UN observers will be unarmed... Thank you, but no...

... way I'd go if I hadn't the ability to defend myself. "The UN resolution was adopted following a debate about the conditions for deployment. European states had said the unarmed observers should be sent only when Syria implemented its pledge to send troops and tanks back to barracks". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17799945

Assad isn't about to send his troops back to their barracks...

[David__77]

4. The Annan plan doesn't call for withdrawal of all troops from cities.

It states that the government should begin to pull back "military concentrations" from population centers. That does not mean that the armed forces would withdraw entirely. And nowhere at all does it call for the withdrawal of security forces and armed police. If all parties hold their fire then of course the Syrian government will withdraw the troops in order to give them rest after a long campaign without having to worry about armed opposition attempting to seize power.

The UN actually demands that the Syrian government accompany their observers and provide them with protection from whomever might do them harm.