Syrian Opposition Rejects U.N.-Brokered Peace Plan After Deadly Weekend
- Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:05am by
Erica Ritz
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(The Blaze/AP) — On Sunday, Syrian opposition groups rejected a U.N.-brokered peace plan for a political transition in Syria, calling it ambiguous and a waste of time while vowing not to negotiate with President Bashar Assad or members of his “murderous” regime.
The declaration follows a weekend of increased bloodshed in Syria, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that at least 85 were killed when a car bomb exploded during a funeral procession Saturday in the town town of Zamalka. Men, women and children had reportedly gathered for the funeral of the town’s 30th victim of the revolution– a relatively low number compared to other areas– when the bomb went off.
Men bow in prayer at a funeral of the victims killed during a suicide bombing attack in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, March 18, 2012 (Photo: AP)
“No one can withstand what we saw today,” said a man who asked not to be identified.
CNN relates that, according to witnesses, security forces began firing on the wounded in the aftermath of the explosion. At least one doctor who was trying to help the fallen was reportedly killed, and amateur video shows gruesome images of bodies, some with their limbs torn, lying on the ground as people dazedly walk around through a thick cloud of smoke.
An international conference in Geneva on Saturday accepted U.N. special envoy Kofi Annan’s plan that calls for the creation of a transitional government, but at Russia‘s insistence the compromise agreement left the door open to Syria’s president being part of the interim administration.
Syrian youth attempt to emulate an American protest movement, while insulting Obama (Photo: AP)
The U.S. backed away from insisting that the plan should explicitly call for Assad to have no role in a new Syrian government, hoping the concession would encourage Russia to put greater pressure on its longtime ally to end the violent crackdown that the opposition says has claimed more than 14,000 lives.
Syrian opposition figures rejected any notion of sharing in a transition with Assad.
“Every day I ask myself, do they not see how the Syrian people are being slaughtered?” veteran Syrian opposition figure Haitham Maleh asked. “It is a catastrophe, the country has been destroyed, and they want us then to sit with the killer?”
Maleh described the agreement reached in Geneva as a waste of time and of “no value on the ground.”
In this photo taken Wednesday, June 13, 2012, members of the Free Syrian Army do maintenance on a military tank they captured during an attack on a military outpost in May (Photo: AP)
“They Syrian people are the ones who will decide the battle on the ground, not those sitting in Geneva or New York or anywhere else,” he said by telephone from Cairo, where opposition groups are to meet Monday.
Bassma Kodmani, a Paris-based spokesperson for Syria’s main opposition group, the Syrian National Council, said the agreement is “ambiguous” and lacks a mechanism or timetable for implementation.
“We cannot say that there is any positive outcome today,” she said. “The Syrians will not accept engaging in any political track while the killing continues.”
There was no reaction from the Syrian regime to the Annan plan, but Assad has repeatedly said his government has a responsibility to eliminate terrorists and will not accept any non-Syrian model of governance.
CNN has video of Annan’s speech:
State-run newspaper Al-Thawra said Sunday “the Syrians are the ones who can determine their future.”
The U.N. plan calls for establishing a transitional government of national unity, with full executive powers, that could include members of Assad’s government and the opposition and other groups. It would oversee the drafting of a new constitution and elections.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted on Saturday that Assad would still have to go, saying it is now “incumbent on Russia and China to show Assad the writing on the wall” and help force his departure.”
“There is a credible alternative to the Assad regime,” she said. “What we have done here is to strip away the fiction that he and those with blood on their hands can stay in power.”
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a press conference at the United Nations offices in Geneva on June 30, 2012 (Photo: Getty Images)
Annan was appointed the special envoy in February, and in March he submitted a six-point peace plan that he said the Assad regime accepted. It led to the April 12 ceasefire that failed to hold. U.N. observers sent to monitor the ceasefire suspended their patrols in Syria on June 16 due to a spike in violence and have been confined to their hotels since.
Moscow had refused to back a provision that would call for Assad to step aside, insisting that outsiders cannot order a political solution for Syria and accusing the West of ignoring the darker side of the Syrian opposition. The opposition has made clear it would not take part in a government in which Assad still held power.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underlined that the plan does not require Assad’s ouster, saying there is “no attempt in the document to impose on the Syrian people any type of transitional process.”
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Comments (53)
SilentReader
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:11pmBy the way, Kofi Annan brokering a deal is about as ludicrous as it gets. The man should be behind bars for the Oil for Food scandal.
However, Hillary Clinton and Kofi Annan really do make a great pair. Both are globalist criminals with impunity.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 5:28pmSalt’N Pepper.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:33pmExactly!
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:43pm“globalist criminals with impunity” heh heh
How abou this, you have to be 100% American and from their district to donate to or lobby a politician? The Globalists would never permit it, but it would solve that and a lot of other problems. And it’s simple.
Report Post »Glynrd Skynrd
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 7:20amSilent Treader…. My sentiments exactly, the reason this world is topsy tervy is because we tolerate criminals & enablers (Kofi Annan) to sit in high places and make decisions for us. TURN THIS TIDE WITH YOUR SINGLE VOTE PEOPLE!
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:03amLet’s not forget Kojo, keeping it in the family.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:01pmHillary Clinton and the corrupt globalist institutions like the EU-UN-NATO are the problem. Now they want to replace one thug dear leader with another one, like they have done in Egypt, and heaven knows what is going on in Libya in that transitional thug government where they’ve hung the Black flag of al Qaeda over the government buildings there. The globalist criminal MSM is strangely MIA on Libya, and anything that really matters.
Vote all the globalist criminals out. Reject and replace.
The world is on fire and the Instigator-in-Chief is awol.
Report Post »shustring
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:49pmI say that Russia, China, USA and any other country should get out and stay out !! It is up to the people of Syria to decide what they want and make it happen. Its not even Assad’s choice. THE PEOPLE as a whole should always rule, not the govt. When the people rule it is freedom when the govt rules it is tyranny…that is in any and ALL countries !!!
Report Post »If these people want their freedom, then they have to be the ones to fight for it and no one else needs to be a part of aiding or helping either side of it.
Passerby
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:46pmHow about if the 12% of the Syrians that are Alawite exterminate the 70% that are Muslim?
Is that the Syrian people handling it themselves?
If 1% exterminated 99% would that be handling it themselves?
Report Post »jenna
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:09pmwow, Hillary has really AGED in just four years from when she was running for President in 2008. wow
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:06pmAt least she has a husband who loves her for her mind and personality.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:35pmComes from… trying to Fluke the World!
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:48pmThat’s exactly what I was thinking. Aged a lot. The stress of a real job I suppose.
Report Post »Itmanager00
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 1:27pmSyria and Assad only recognize STRENGTH and FORCE. The UN and especially Annan only know PEACE and WIMP. There will never be a deal between these two groups. Syria will continue to murder its own people and anyone the interferes until someone with greater STRENGTH comes to make a deal.
Since O is basically a coward, only willing to shoot from a robotic plane from 40,000 feet, he will never put enough pressure on Syria to deal.
Where is John Bolton when you really need him?
Report Post »ICEDRAGON
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 1:07pmThis game is being played by the OLD CRONE, HAJI HILLARY and Turkey to suck the USA into this BS, to be the police. I say unless we can kill the enemies of the USA with impunity, KISS OFF.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 11:21amSyria is not our problem. We must stop our wars by proxy for Israel. Here‘s what’s really going on: http://www.iasps.org/strat1.htm
It was written by Jewish Americans with loyalty to Israel. They held high political office in the Bush II administration. They have been in and out of our government for decades. Read their histories. Educate yourself. You’re being used.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:33pmbut,but,but….
Report Post »hugo65hsv
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:57amThe United Nations has proved to be nothing but a hindrance to peace.. This organization is a shame… Get it out of the U.S.. We could use the human resources, time, money and real estate for some other worth while purpose..
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 12:47pmWell well, what do you know. Neither side will agree to the UN plan. That is the problem with the UN, they think that by being smart liberals they can get anyone to see the infinite wisdom of the UN directives and will wholeheartedly run screaming with joy into the arms of the UN solution. Probably would have been more productive to see what were the minimum goals for each side first.
Report Post »1. Rebels- remove Assad.
2. Assad- remain in power.
There you have it they will not agree.
KidCharlemagne
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:52amUmmm……what’s the alternative??:
———————————————————————–
Al-Qaeda Ladies’ Choir Struts Its Stuff in Rebel Syria
by John Rosenthal 10 May 2012
Back in mid-February, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper warned that al-Qaeda had “infiltrated” the Syrian opposition. At roughly the same time, videos began emerging on the internet that clearly revealed just what an understatement–to put it mildly–Clapper’s observation represented. The videos show Syrian rebel brigades proudly posing with the al-Qaeda flag and protestors holding it high. This was not a matter of “infiltration,” with the word’s connotations of stealth and cunning, but rather of an openly publicized affiliation.
Report Post »http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2012/05/10/Al-Qaeda-Ladies-Choir-Struts-Its-Stuff-in-Rebel-Syria
Walkabout
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 11:08amGiven our state department with or without Hillary & given our government with or without Obama we would probably back the wrong parts of any Syrian opposition. In fact we are doing so. We are backing the Muslim Brotherhood part of the Syrian opposition, who is doing the least fighting & forcing the one s doing the fighting to accept the brotherhood.
But if you are ‘lite class of bureaucrat this all makes sense.
Report Post »theblazerunner
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:51amafter november the congress will vote on the sea treaty…lame duck strikes again
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:38pmSo… do we become a Dictatorship before, or after, the loss of Sovereignty?
Report Post »Daveed
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:16amSyrians also want to be free away from tyrants, dictators and live their own lives, give their children more than what they had. They had quite a message for Obama, did they not? Where is George Clooney? Maybe instead of raising money for America’s Dictators, ummm maybe he should be out helping the genocie of the Syirians. Like, ya have to ask that question. Oh, he is in cahoots with the UN, oh excuse I meant to say he is in unison with the Ununited Nations. Does not sound like the Syrian people want anything to do with the Ununited Nations (which is corrupt) but their gov’t is not listening to them. Wow, does that sound familiar or what? Syria youths, we Americans do not care too much for Obama either. We pray alot. We pray he changes course, he could have done nothing if the Demokrat Communists were not backing him up with the collaberation of the Main Street Media. We hear your pain, we pray for you and come election time, we are going to get Obama out of Office. We do not like our choices again this election time. The candidates have come pre-selected and neither would be our 1st thru One millionth choice. We do not like big money coming from overseas to bolster candidates purses, because dishonest men promise a lot, and never deliver then owe allegience to the biggest donors rather than the American people. Greed and lust for power are thier Gods.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 11:06amWhy should America get involved on one side or the other?
The execrable press filmed starvation in Somalia. The UN sent food aid. America is the lion’s share of the UN budget. Which means America sent food aid. The Habr Gidr clan stole the food aid as leverage against other clans to make them recognize clan Habr Gidr. So the UN (i.e. the US) went after the the Habr Gidr clean leader, Mohammad Farrah Aidid. What did we get? 18 killed & another cause celebre for leftists like the trolls on this board namely JZS, steelhead, monicne & others.
The bloodshed in Somalia is the reason the U.S. does not get involved in Darfur no matter how much George Clooney pleads, cajoles or begs.
Another reason is all the Somali refugees in the U.S. They are in the U.S. because of our involvement in Somalia. What is our pay off? An anti American U.S. congressmen (Keith Ellison), taxi cab drivers that won’t pick up passengers who need seeing eye dogs, & numerous Somali youth joining Al Shabab.
The ending of Beneath the Planet of the Apes would be a good one for Earth. With neighbors like you, it is much to be desired. Remember you only need one & it can’t be shot down. :)
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:09amWith every day… Hilary looks more and more like the scarecrow from the Wizard of OZ.
Report Post »sick6james
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 1:16pm“If I only had a brain.” – Hillary R. Clinton
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:08amGet out of the way, and let them kill each other……period.
Report Post »scudster
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:05amScrew the UN, Bill and Hillary and all of the current administration. American resolve is becoming weaker by the day and US leaders seem oblivious to this fact that our enemies no longer fear us and our arrogant leaders as well as those arrogant b-s-ards in the United Nations are just puffed up elitists that are living like royalty on the money they steel from the taxpayers. How much longer will Americans tolerate this horsechit???
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:03amWhat a face on the liberal idiot- She needs to talk to Nancy P about who she used for her face lift so she can get one. At this rate she is starting to make Madam ( Not So Bright) Albright look like a beauty queen.
Report Post »nolefan2
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:13amThe US has no business telling any other country who their leader must be. We have problems of our own and should worry about our own “dictator.” We’re going to wind up just like them.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:09amThe opposition will not accept any deal that includes Assad. Assad will never step aside. Why should he? He has the support of Russia, China and Iran. You can bet your boots that the Muslim Brotherhood is also involved helping the opposition.
The U.N. is toothless as is Obama and Clinton.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:53amWell said. I had to go back and reread the whole thing, thought they were describing Chicago at first and didn’t read the captions. But most everything applied if you substitute 0 with assad and Chicago with Syria.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:58amRepublicans are blaming Obama for not doing anything to remove Assad and at the same time, blaming him for letting MB or Al Qaeda take over. Why play politics with this issue? Isnt there enough to hammer obama on without resorting to these tricks?
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:58amThe POS has earned everything thats thrown at him then some.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 11:11amHe deserves the blame. there are parts of the FSA that are unaffiliated with the MB, which do most of the fighting but the state department is insistent on them allying with the MB. They are also giving the people who fight the least the most aid.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:54amThe U.N. is nothing more than a wasteful debating society designed to be a stage upon which various diplomatic elites get to talk among themselves dressed in overpriced suits bought and paid for by the blood of innocents whom they fail. The U.N. IS A WASTE itself!
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:51amThe UN, kofi anan and the like are USELESS. They all just sit around huffing and puffing, beating their chests, issue a statement. BIG DEAL!
Report Post »randy
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:48amObama will go down in history as the person responsible for starting World War 3
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:45amObama will drag us into this war before much longer; and the precident of the UN has been set for the changing of regimes for some time now, think on this, what would happen here in the US if the UN decided that it objected to a American POTUS so badly, say the successor of Obama, that they chose to interveine…
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:20pmIt would be the perfect segue to pull out of the UN. I just don’t know who in this country would have the cojones to actually pull the trigger.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:33amForcing a country to change its leader is wrong. The countries people must decide.
What if in the near future our country is in a civil war. What if the UN decides your sides leader must go?
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:32am(Screw the UN).The U.S. needs to take the lead while working with the Arab League (and especially the Jordanians) to go in (on friendly terms) to help secure the stockpiles of chemical and bilogical weapons. Who is actually securing them now… Assad’s forces? This is the main issue that really needs to be addressed before all else. Assad may choose to use these stockpiles as a last resort on his own people, or the opposition may take control at some point which IMO may be a different nightmare scenerio altogether.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:23am” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted on Saturday that Assad would still have to go ”
On watching her on the news last night she said that Assad had blood on his hands and must go. Well I have the same thoughts about Eric Holder- He has the blood of Agent Terry and many south of our border on his hands- HE Must Go
Let the Syrians determine their own future. We need to stay out of it. We always get involved with other country’s problems- Let Them Handle it,
Report Post »