Dubai: Syrian government troops yesterday launched an offensive on rebel bastions in violation of a truce pledge, with 80 people reported killed since Tuesday. This comes as an advance team of UN monitors prepares to enter Syria.
The peace mission, headed by Norwegian General Robert Mood, is part of efforts to implement a deal between President Bashar Al Assad and UN mediator Kofi Annan for an April 10 withdrawal of Syrian forces, to be followed by a ceasefire by rebel forces within 48 hours.
These developments came as Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the opposition would never defeat Al Assad's army even if it was "armed to the teeth".
Activists said government forces are pressing on with a campaign of raids and arrests in rebel areas, accompanied by bombardments, gun battles and sniper attacks.
"Since this morning they have been shelling Khalidiya neighbourhood, that is in its 17th day," said Hadi Abdullah by telephone from Homs. A Syrian Red Crescent distribution centre in Homs was burned to the ground yesterday, activists said. There were conflicting reports about what caused the fire.
Amnesty International said it had counted 232 deaths since Syria accepted Annan's plan on March 27.
