UN urges cease-fire in Syria to speed up aid

 

The UN Security Council has agreed on a presidential statement calling on Syria to "urgently and visibly" fulfill its pledge to halt the use of troops and heavy weapons in cities and towns by the April 10th deadline.

The UN Security Council statement, read by US Ambassador and Council President Susan Rice, demanded that the Syrian government halt its attacks on opposition targets. It also called on all parties in Syria to cooperate fully with the UN to supply humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people.

Susan Rice said, "The Security Council calls upon all parties in Syria, in particular the Syrian authorities, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and relevant humanitarian organizations to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance. To this end, the Security Council calls on all parties to immediately implement a daily two hour humanitarian pause."

The UN Security Council will have to take "very urgent and serious" action if Syria fails to meet an April 10 deadline to halt its military operations in protest cities, US ambassador Susan Rice, pictured on April 2, said Tuesday.

The presidential statement also calls on all parties, including the opposition, to cease armed hostilities within 48 hours of the April 10th government withdrawal being fully implemented.

At a later informal meeting of the UN General Assembly, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned the situation on the ground in Syria has continued to deteriorate.

Ban Ki-moon said, "Violence should have stopped months ago. Indeed it never should have started, particularly since it was unleashed in response to the legitimate demands of the Syrian people."

UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria-- Kofi Annan also addressed the General Assembly via video link from Geneva. His briefing addressed the fact that military operations in civilian population centres have not stopped, and referenced a letter by the Syrian government claiming that armed groups are continuing their attacks.

Annan said, "Alarming levels of casualties and other abuses continue to be reported daily. Military operations in civilian population centres have not stopped. For its part, the government has written to me stating that armed groups continue to assault and attack government forces, civilians and property."

Annan urged UN General Assembly member states to use whatever influence they have on all sides in the conflict to stop the fighting and enter Syrian-led political talks that meet the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people.