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Fighting, shelling reported in Syria despite cease-fire pledge
Los Angeles Times ^ | Saturday, March 31, 2012 | Raja Abdulrahim

Posted on 03/31/2012 11:01:04 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Special envoy to Syria Kofi Annan says he expects Syria President Bashar Assad to implement an immediate cease-fire. But opposition groups report at least 45 people killed around the nation.

Clashes and shelling were reported across Syria on Friday, even as the former secretary-general of the United Nations said he expected an immediate cease-fire by President Bashar Assad's forces.

At least 45 people were killed nationwide in the violence, according to the Local Coordination Committees, a coalition of opposition activist groups. The killings, including 14 in the northeast city of Dair Alzour and 12 in the central city of Homs, took place amid large protests across the country by activists demanding action in the Arab world in support of their cause...

Assad had agreed to the six-point plan, endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, in a letter to Annan this week.

It calls for talks between the opposition and the government in an "inclusive Syrian-led political process," a cease-fire and troop withdrawal, humanitarian assistance in areas affected by the fighting, the release of those who have been arbitrarily detained, free access for journalists and respect for "freedom of association and the right to demonstrate peacefully."

But in Homs, activist Waleed Fares on Friday reported shells falling in the Old City every 10 to 15 minutes. "Big parts of the city are being destroyed," he said via the Skype communications system.

In Hama, Dair Alzour and the Damascus suburbs, clashes between Free Syrian Army rebels and government forces erupted within days after Assad agreed to the U.N.-backed peace plan.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: syria

Abdulrahim reported from Beirut. Special correspondent Rima Marrouch in Beirut contributed to this report.
This image from amateur video released Friday purportedly shows civilians moving with Syrian troops, possibly as human shields, in Idlib, Syria. The information cannot be verified. (Shaam News Network / March 30, 2012)

This image from amateur video released Friday purportedly shows civilians moving with Syrian troops, possibly as human shields, in Idlib, Syria. The information cannot be verified. (Shaam News Network / March 30, 2012)

1 posted on 03/31/2012 11:01:11 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

2 posted on 03/31/2012 11:03:36 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him)
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To: SunkenCiv

It is not going to end until the Russian and Iranian “advisors” leave.


3 posted on 03/31/2012 11:04:50 PM PDT by U-238
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To: U-238

It could take a year or more, depending on how much help they get. Libya took quite a while, really, even with the decisive air support by NATO, but even then the denouement was precipitous. As the Assad regime collapses, it will retreat town by town, not unlike Gaddafy’s forces did in Libya. The difference is, Assad is leveling the predominantly Sunni towns, which leaves the population with other concerns than protesting.


4 posted on 03/31/2012 11:28:36 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him)
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To: SunkenCiv

I do not think the Assad regime will collapse. As long as Assad is getting regular shipments of men and war material from Iran and Russia he is not going anywhere. Last night, China has agreed to buy Syrian oil meaning his cash supply will not dry up.


5 posted on 03/31/2012 11:33:28 PM PDT by U-238
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To: SunkenCiv

Syria and Iran: Too Evil to Fail(tm).


6 posted on 04/01/2012 12:41:25 AM PDT by Helvan
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To: SunkenCiv

Ah yes the world has had cease fires since the apes left the caves.


7 posted on 04/01/2012 4:28:29 AM PDT by Flavius (What hopes for victory, Gaius Crastinus? What grounds for encouragement ?)
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To: U-238

Saudi Arabia is both loaded and motivated, and also by the 1990s had a stockpile of weapons so vast that there literally weren’t enough people in the country to use them all. Gosh, I wonder why they accumulated *those*, eh? :’)


8 posted on 04/01/2012 7:16:26 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him)
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