The twin blasts in Damascus, which led to dozens of deaths, including those of civilians, have not just managed to kill aimlessly, they have also dealt a blow to Kofi Annan's peace plan aimed at bringing stability to Syria. The presence of international monitors on the ground has not helped to quell the violence and if Annan's plan, which is faltering, fails then it will be back to a series of offensives with more blood-letting — which could act as a catalyst for a long and disastrous civil war.
Calls for government and rebel forces to put down their weapons have so far gone unheeded. Both sides are accusing each other of failing to uphold the ceasefire.
Annan has personally admitted that his six-point peace plan may not work in the long-term, but what is more frightening is that there is no other viable option on the table. The only ray of hope that shines through, amidst all the destruction, political double- speak, and defiance is that casualty figures and the level of hostility have come down.
This is perhaps the perfect opportunity for the international community — including Russia and China who have shielded Bashar Al Assad's regime from punitive action before — to step in and engage with government and opposition forces in order to raise the prospects for stability.
The UN monitors — all of whom are unarmed — have got an indication about the consequences of violence faced by the civilians everyday, having escaped with their lives in a roadside bombing in Daraa on Wednesday. They would therefore realise the benefits of advocating a ceasefire.
Al Assad is perhaps paranoid that a decision to enter into a dialogue with rebel forces could result in the weakening of his own position. But the implications of a full blown civil war are far greater than he can imagine.
