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Both sides in Syria violating truce: UN
Both sides in the Syrian conflict are violating a ceasefire, a top United Nations official said, as a rights group on Wednesday accused the regime of committing atrocities in the province of Idlib.
UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said on Tuesday that Syrian troops have kept heavy weapons in cities, and that both the Government and rebels have violated the putative truce that went into effect April 12.
He also said UN members had so far only offered only 150 military observers for the 300-strong planned force and that Syria had refused visas for three proposed monitors. But Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi denied visa requests had been turned down and said the two sides had agreed on the nationalities that could operate in Syria.
“We agreed with the UN negotiating team that nationalities of observers to be mutually agreed upon ... So there is no refusal per se ...There are far more than 110 nationalities that can easily work in Syria,” he told AFP.
Ladsous said 24 monitors were currently in place. “Regarding the heavy weapons, yes, our military observers do see a number of APCs (armoured personnel carriers), for instance; they see a number of Howitzers and other military equipment in most places where they are,” he said.
Both sides in the Syrian conflict are violating a ceasefire, a top United Nations official said, as a rights group on Wednesday accused the regime of committing atrocities in the province of Idlib.
UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said on Tuesday that Syrian troops have kept heavy weapons in cities, and that both the Government and rebels have violated the putative truce that went into effect April 12.
He also said UN members had so far only offered only 150 military observers for the 300-strong planned force and that Syria had refused visas for three proposed monitors. But Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi denied visa requests had been turned down and said the two sides had agreed on the nationalities that could operate in Syria.
“We agreed with the UN negotiating team that nationalities of observers to be mutually agreed upon ... So there is no refusal per se ...There are far more than 110 nationalities that can easily work in Syria,” he told AFP.
Ladsous said 24 monitors were currently in place. “Regarding the heavy weapons, yes, our military observers do see a number of APCs (armoured personnel carriers), for instance; they see a number of Howitzers and other military equipment in most places where they are,” he said.
