Syria to withdraw troops from safe cities: paper
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E-mail Xinhua, April 1, 2012
A pro-government daily said Sunday that Syria will start to withdraw its military from "safe cities," adding that the authorities are not going to jeopardize the citizens' lives in cities that are still witnessing armed terrorism.
Quoting a "well informed source," the al-Watan said the Syrian army is carrying out a mission to protect the Syrians countrywide, adding that "definitely the army will be back to its barracks once this mission in accomplished."
The daily's headline came just a day after foreign ministry spokesman, Jihad Makdissi, stressed that the government will not pull troops from restive cities and towns before life returns to normal in these areas.
The spokesman's statement came as a response to the appeal made by a spokesman of UN envoy Kofi Annan who urged the Syrian government to lay down weapons and implement the UN-backed peace plan immediately. "The deadline is now," said the spokesman, adding that "We are appealing to the stronger party to make a gesture of good faith."
The plan calls for an end to violence in Syria by all parties, a proposal for a cease-fire initiated by the Syrian government, a daily halt in fighting for the delivery of humanitarian aid and treatment for the wounded, as well as talks between the government and opposition.
Syria has officially approved the plan and its stance has drawn the world's consent without shunning aside the possibility of looking for further options should the Syrian government backtracked from its commitment.
While the international frenzy goes on, violence continues across the country. Engineering units dismantled Saturday two explosive devices planted by "armed terrorist" groups in the northern province of Idlib, the country's news agency SANA said in a report on Sunday.
It said the two devices weigh between 40 to 50 kg.
In Idlib countryside, Syrian authorities seized a car loaded with various weapons in Bab al-Hawa, said SANA, adding that the driver fired at the authorities leading to clashes which resulted in his death.
Several machine guns in addition to wireless devices, night- vision scopes and sniper ammunition were found in the car.
In the central region, security and stability were restored to the town of al-Madiq Castle in the central province of Hama after the authorities rid it of armed terrorist groups that had been terrorizing locals, erecting roadblocks and barricades, and vandalizing public and private property, said SANA.
In central Homs city, the authorities raided a three-stories building in Juret al-Arayes neighborhood which, according to SANA, an armed terrorist group had been using as a hideout, confiscating a large amount of weapons in ammo, some of which made in Israel while others were made in the U.S..
The confiscated weapons include automatic rifles, sniper rifles and machine-guns, in addition to magazines, satchels, advanced communication devices, explosives, medical equipment and supplies stolen by the terrorists.
In northern Aleppo city, a terrorist group detonated an explosive device on Friday evening in al-Marje neighborhood while law enforcement forces were trying to dismantle it and evacuate citizens from the vicinity, injuring 17 civilians and members of law enforcement forces, but there were no casualties or ensuing shooting, contrary to the allegations of some media outlets.
Syria's ambassador at the United Nations, Bashar Jae'farri, said Saturday that more than 6,000 Syrians were killed by the gunshots of armed groups, which he said have also kidnapped more than 1,500 others since the start of unrest in Syria in mid March 2011.
He added that the deaths include 204 women and 56 children, 478 policemen, 2,088 army personnel and security agents.
The United Nations said last week the number of people killed since the unrest began in March last year has exceeded 9,000.
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