Peace Hopes Disappear in Syria After Bombings During Deadline

Walid al-Muallem

The period for Syrian troops to retreat from cities was over since this Tuesday morning. However, no reports show a change in the crisis that has lasted for more than a year in Syria. Today at least 12 people died in Homs, including three children due to an attack with missiles and mortars.

In the north of the country, the forces of Bashar al-Assad also attacked the city of Maarei, in the province of Aleppo. The opposition group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, informed that the regime troops stationed outside Maarei were shelling the city.

Meanwhile the Syrian foreign minister, Walid al-Muallem, pointed out that the government has taken the necessary measures to fulfil the peace plan of the UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. Al-Muallem stated that several military units have been removed from some provinces.

The Syrian rebels have been chased by the regime forces across the Turkish border, since the rebels are using refugee camps as safe havens. So far the Turkish government turns a blind eye to their movements and “lets them go back to fight.” (AV)