Clashes in Syria inflict heavy losses on civilians: UN
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E-mail Xinhua, August 13, 2012
The head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) Gen Babacar Gaye said Monday that the heavy clashes between the government forces and the opposition are inflicting heavy losses on innocent civilians.
Gaye said none of the conflicting parties in Syria is caring about the civilians.
"It's clear that violence is increasing in many parts of Syria, the indiscriminate use of heavy weapon by the government and the targeted attacks by the opposition in urban centers are inflicting a heavy toll on innocent civilians," he said.
He said the observers patrols are monitoring the impact of the violence and visiting internal displaced people and hospitals.
Concerning the future of the UNSMIS, Gaye said the mission has six days to go, "We will continue to the last minute of our mandate to urge the parties to move from confrontation to dialogue. "
"I call on the parties to cease operations and come to the table. I am just back from a meeting with the government and made this appeal, we had a team which visited the opposition outside the country this week and made the same appeal," he said.
Regarding downsizing the mission's manpower, Gaye said that some observers have been relocated due to the severe violence, particularly in northern Aleppo province.
Earlier in the day, a source told Xinhua that a total of 21 UN observers left Syria Monday, adding that Gaye took the decision after consultations with the UN Security Council.
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