Syria agrees deadline for UN peace plan

Hopes have been raised that violence in Syria could come to an end after the government agreed to partially implement a six-point peace plan by 10 April.

3 April 2012, 12:00am

1 min read

UN former secretary general Kofi Annan said the regime of President Bashar al Assad had pledged to remove its troops and heavy weaponry from towns and cities within 48 hours of the withdrawal

TWEET SHARE

The news was delivered to the UN Security Council by Kofi Annan, the UN's former secretary-general and its current Syria envoy.

Annan told the council by video conference that the regime of President Bashar al Assad had pledged to remove its troops and heavy weaponry from towns and cities, paving the way for a total ceasefire with opposition fighters within 48 hours of the withdrawal.

Annan asked the council to consider how a ceasefire monitoring mission would work, but warned that there had been no progress yet in terms of implementing that ceasefire on the ground.

Although the development was broadly welcomed by all Security Council members, some voiced concern that Assad has not previously honoured his commitments to the international community.

Susan Rice, US ambassador to the UN, described America as "sceptical", and said some members of the council were worried that the government would use this to intensify violence over the next few days.

Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja'afari, said his government was working in "good faith" and at the "highest diplomatic levels" to agree to the rest of Annan's plan, which includes allowing humanitarian and media access, and beginning a political dialogue.

•

although the world only superpower the us is in no position to dictate to the security council what the legitimate syrian government should or should not do. they have to tie the line of the security council now that the push to infiltrate syria through terrorists force have been stopped. let the syrians decide for themselves whats good for them without any unnecessary bloodshed. look what is happening in libya now where the coalition of colonial forces have had their way. the us only interest is to liquidise an antizionist front facing the state of apertheid that is israel.