Revolt to ouster President Assad is over
Mar 31, 2012 19:31:17 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Mar 31, 2012 19:31:17 GMT -5
Revolt to ouster President Assad is over, says Syrian official
Published March 31, 2012
| FoxNews.com
Reuters
The violent year-long uprising that aimed to remove President Bashar al-Assad from power in Syria has ended, a country's spokesman said. But the army continued to shell opposition areas on Saturday, Reuters reported.
"The battle to topple the state is over," Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad al-Makdissi told Syria TV, according to the report. "Our goal now is to ensure stability and create a perspective for reform and development in Syria while preventing others from sabotaging the path of reform."
He added that the presence of Syrian Army soldiers in cities was "for defensive purposes ... to protect the civilians."
"Once peace and security prevail, the army is to pull out," he was quoted as saying by the SANA news agency.
But opposition activists said they would not cease fire until tanks and troops are withdrawn.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Syria on Friday to protest against what they see as the inaction of Arab governments in the face of the Syrian regime's crackdown, which the UN says has claimed more than 9,000 lives.
Makdissi’s remarks come after a series of victories for the Syrian army in the cities of Hama, Homs and Idlib, which were former rebel strongholds, the report said. Foreign countries also do not appear ready to commit to the rebels either militarily or provide firepower.
International envoy Kofi Annan called on Assad to immediately implement a six-point plan for peace.
"I can't tell you what the next steps will be if they don't stop now," a spokesman for Annan said, adding that the envoy was due to brief the UN Security Council on Monday and "we will take it from there."
The plan has yet to be accepted by both sides.
Read more: www.foxnews.com/world/2012/03/31/revolt-to-ouster-president-assad-is-over-says-syrian-official/#ixzz1qkCVbc8A
Published March 31, 2012
| FoxNews.com
Reuters
The violent year-long uprising that aimed to remove President Bashar al-Assad from power in Syria has ended, a country's spokesman said. But the army continued to shell opposition areas on Saturday, Reuters reported.
"The battle to topple the state is over," Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad al-Makdissi told Syria TV, according to the report. "Our goal now is to ensure stability and create a perspective for reform and development in Syria while preventing others from sabotaging the path of reform."
He added that the presence of Syrian Army soldiers in cities was "for defensive purposes ... to protect the civilians."
"Once peace and security prevail, the army is to pull out," he was quoted as saying by the SANA news agency.
But opposition activists said they would not cease fire until tanks and troops are withdrawn.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Syria on Friday to protest against what they see as the inaction of Arab governments in the face of the Syrian regime's crackdown, which the UN says has claimed more than 9,000 lives.
Makdissi’s remarks come after a series of victories for the Syrian army in the cities of Hama, Homs and Idlib, which were former rebel strongholds, the report said. Foreign countries also do not appear ready to commit to the rebels either militarily or provide firepower.
International envoy Kofi Annan called on Assad to immediately implement a six-point plan for peace.
"I can't tell you what the next steps will be if they don't stop now," a spokesman for Annan said, adding that the envoy was due to brief the UN Security Council on Monday and "we will take it from there."
The plan has yet to be accepted by both sides.
Read more: www.foxnews.com/world/2012/03/31/revolt-to-ouster-president-assad-is-over-says-syrian-official/#ixzz1qkCVbc8A
