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April 25, 2012

Reports: Syrian Troops Target Protesters After U.N. Monitors Depart 
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Syrian forces are apparently continuing attacks on anti-government
protesters following the departure of U.N. monitors from key areas. The
Douma suburb of Damascus was reportedly shelled this morning, just two
days after anti-government protesters staged a rally during a monitoring
team visit. More than 30 people were reportedly killed on Monday in the
central city of Hama when troops fired automatic weapons. A spokesperson
for special envoy Kofi Annan said there are credible reports that
security forces are targeting people who approach observers. The United
Nations plans to send dozens more monitors to Syria, but Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton said the United States is preparing "additional
steps" in case the peace plan fails. In a briefing to the U.N. Security
Council, special envoy Kofi Annan said the attacks, if confirmed, would
be "totally unacceptable and reprehensible." The U.S. Ambassador to the
U.N., Susan Rice, also criticized the Syrian government.

Susan Rice: "Our patience is exhausted. The fact that the violence
continues despite the so-called ceasefire of April 12 is in our view,
not only unacceptable, but reprehensible and we've been very clear in
supporting the dispatch of the balance of the monitoring mission that
the onus remains on the Syrian government to halt the violence and then
subsequently on both sides to maintain a cessation of violence and allow
the observers to move freely and do their work without any obstruction."

 

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