Fresh clashes in Syria ahead of UN mission
15:48 - 6 April 2012
KURDPA - Fierce clashes have been reported between Syrian government forces and opposition fighters in Douma, near the capital Damascus, and in other parts of the country, amid doubts over the government\'s declared commitment to meeting an imminent ceasefire deadline.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that violence against civilians had not stopped and the year-long conflict was getting worse.
\"Despite the Syrian government\'s acceptance of the joint special envoy\'s plan of initial proposals to resolve the crisis, the violence and assaults in civilian areas have not stopped,\" Ban told the UN General Assembly.
\"The situation on the ground continues to deteriorate,\" he said.
The continuing violence comes as a UN monitoring team led by Major General Robert Mood is expected in Damascus on Thursday to review the government\'s promise of a troop withdrawal to army bases by April 10.
Major General Mood is a former chief of staff of the Norwegian armed forces and former head of the UN\'s Jerusalem-based UNTSO Middle East peacekeeping mission.
The UN Security Council is calling on Syria \"to urgently and visibly\" fulfill its pledge to halt the use of troops and heavy
weapons in cities and towns by 6am Syria time on April 12, giving the government and opposition groups 48 hours to end all hostilities.
The UN is already asking member nations to contribute about 200 to 250 soldiers who would monitor the ceasefire.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that violence against civilians had not stopped and the year-long conflict was getting worse.
\"Despite the Syrian government\'s acceptance of the joint special envoy\'s plan of initial proposals to resolve the crisis, the violence and assaults in civilian areas have not stopped,\" Ban told the UN General Assembly.
\"The situation on the ground continues to deteriorate,\" he said.
The continuing violence comes as a UN monitoring team led by Major General Robert Mood is expected in Damascus on Thursday to review the government\'s promise of a troop withdrawal to army bases by April 10.
Major General Mood is a former chief of staff of the Norwegian armed forces and former head of the UN\'s Jerusalem-based UNTSO Middle East peacekeeping mission.
The UN Security Council is calling on Syria \"to urgently and visibly\" fulfill its pledge to halt the use of troops and heavy
weapons in cities and towns by 6am Syria time on April 12, giving the government and opposition groups 48 hours to end all hostilities.
The UN is already asking member nations to contribute about 200 to 250 soldiers who would monitor the ceasefire.
