Syria rebels quit eastern city, army on offensive
Last edited Tue Mar 20, 2012, 10:34 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: Reuters
By Oliver Holmes and Crispian Balmer
BEIRUT | Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:13am EDT
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Rebel fighters were forced to flee the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zor on Tuesday in the face of a fierce army assault, suffering the latest setback in their bid to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
In a separate blow to their cause, a respected human rights group accused the armed opposition of committing torture and arbitrary executions during the 12-month uprising - charges previously only leveled at the state security apparatus.
Despite recent successes, Assad still faces significant outside pressure. Ally Russia signaled on Tuesday it would support a U.N. statement backing a mission by envoy Kofi Annan to end the bloodshed so long as there was no ultimatums.
In addition, Moscow joined calls for both the army and rebels to grant daily ceasefires that would enable humanitarian missions to areas of Syria worst hit by the fighting.
more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/20/us-syria-idUSBRE8280G820120320
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/20/us-syria-idUSBRE8280G820120320
Russia ready to support Annan's Syria mission at UN
Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:29am EDT
* Moscow can back UN statement if no anti-Assad ultimatum
* Statement backed by Russia would be sign of unity
* Russia has vetoed 2 Security Council resolutions on Syria
By Alexei Anishchuk and Steve Gutterman
MOSCOW, March 20 (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday it was ready to endorse a U.N. Security Council statement backing U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's Syrian peace mission as long it does not present an ultimatum to President Bashar al-Assad's government.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also repeated Russia's insistence that Syrian government forces and rebels must cease fire simultaneously to end a year of bloodshed, a position that differs starkly to that of the United States.
Lavrov said Russia, which has blocked Security Council action on Syria for months, was prepared to approve a statement or resolution supporting the efforts of U.N.-Arab League envoy Annan. But he added there were "at least two" conditions.
more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/20/syria-russia-idUSL6E8EK1Y020120320