Annan tells Syria conflict must end 6 a.m. April 12

[tabatha]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has told the Syrian government and opposition that the year-long conflict must end at 6:00 a.m. local time on April 12 if the government meets an April 10 deadline to silence its weapons, Annan said on Thursday.

Speaking by video link from Geneva, Annan told the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly that he was urging "the government and the opposition commanders to issue clear instructions so that the message reaches across the country, down to the fighter and soldier at the local level."

"We must silence the tanks, helicopters, mortars, guns and stop all other forms of violence too - sexual abuse, torture, executions, abductions, destruction of homes, forced displacement and other abuses, including on children," he said.

Annan addressed the assembly after the 15-nation Security Council increased the pressure on Syria by unanimously adopting a so-called "presidential statement" endorsing next week's deadline and warning Damascus of "further steps" if Syria did not meet the deadline, which the Syrians have publicly accepted.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/05/us-syria-un-idUSBRE8340T420120405

[leveymg]

1. So, what does the UN-Arab League do if the opposition continues attacks? Expel them from the UN?

Authorize the NYPD SVU to go into rebel strongholds to arrest child abusers?

[tabatha]

3. I think there is some wire-crossing going on in that statement.

The abusers of children are the Assad troops.

And not to worry, it is all being documented.

[Ken Burch]

11. "Law and Order: Syrian Victims Unit"?

n/t.

(I'm thinking they probably shouldn't put Munch on this case...)

[AngryAmish]

2. I'm certain this is going to work.

[riderinthestorm]

4. Yep, a strongly worded video scolding will simply devastate Assad I'm sure....

[AngryAmish]

6. Assad steps down, he dies (along with a lot of his tribe)

He ain't going anywhere.

[riderinthestorm]

7. Oh, I 100% agree. He's got Iran behind him. Russia and China have put themselves up as his firewall

protecting him as well.

Besides, this entire Syria mess reeks of a sectarian bloodbath waiting to burst into a regional conflict. No way is Kofi Annan going to be the ignition.

Annan can now simply point to his (virtually useless) public scolding for some consolation I presume. Only thing it does is make the UN look even more irrelevant than ever unfortunately.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. Does this mean the FSA is supposed to go away?

I don't see how this is supposed to work.

Is the Assad regime supposed to accept "liberated zones" in areas where the FSA is active? What state cedes national territory to an insurgency?

Are the Syrian police (not the armed forces) supposed to patrol areas where the FSA is active?

Is the FSA supposed to put down its guns? Then what? Wait for the Syrian police to come after them?

And are all sides supposed to say, "Well, the past is past and let's work together to build a better Syria?" I fear too much blood has been shed for that to be the case.

[David__77]

8. The state cannot allow weapons smuggling.

If they do, it will only inflame the situation. There will be no binding security council resolution.

[KamaAina]

9. Homs, April 12, 5:59 AM

"Hurry up! Fire! Fire! Kofi Annan will be here any minute!!"

[Ken Burch]

10. Why 6 a.m.?

Is there some particular reason the war has to end before breakfast?

[Posteritatis]

12. Dawn's no less arbitrary than noon or midnight. (nt)

[Ken Burch]

13. True, and World War ended at 11 am on November 11th, 1918

(because somebody decided it should end on "the eleventh hour, of the eleventh of the eleventh month".)

Just wondering if there had been any particular explanation-like maybe Annan was meeting Bono for lunch in Davos or something.