Each Side Accuses the Other of Breaking Syrian Cease-Fire
Source: NY Times
Antigovernment activists in the Syrian conflict accused President Bashar al-Assad’s forces on Tuesday of the most widespread violations of an already fractured five-day-old cease-fire, including the tank shelling of neighborhoods in at least two cities and the use of helicopters to attack suspected rebels in mountainside villages.
The Syrian government said its forces were responding to provocations from Mr. Assad’s armed opponents and accused them of trying to sabotage the cease-fire, part of a peace plan negotiated by Kofi Annan, the special emissary of the United Nations and the Arab League.
The sides traded accusations as an advance team of United Nations observers, sent to monitor the cease-fire, was spotted in the southern city of Dara’a, where the uprising against Mr. Assad started in March 2011, and where activists reported some clashes on Tuesday. There was no official confirmation of what the observers had done there.
“Three United Nations cars came, escorted by security,” said Ammar, a law student in Dara’a reached briefly by telephone, who, like many others who were contacted, identified himself by only one name to avoid retribution. He said protesters took to the streets instantly to send a message to the observers, who stayed closeted in an extended meeting with the local governor.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/world/middleeast/each-side-accuses-the-other-of-violating-syrias-cease-fire.html
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