Syria army reportedly takes north rebel stronghold

[maddezmom]

Source: AP


By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press – 12 minutes ago

BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian army recaptured the northern rebel stronghold of Idlib near the Turkish border, a major base that military defectors had held for months, a pro-government newspaper and an activist group reported Tuesday. An international rights group, meanwhile, said the regime was mining the border with Turkey.

Also Tuesday, President Bashar Assad set nationwide parliamentary elections for May 7. The vote was initially to take place in March but was postponed after last month's referendum on the country's new constitution that allowed new political parties to run.

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Fresh from a monthlong campaign that drove rebels out of another key base in central Homs, Assad's forces launched a siege on the city of Idlib three days ago. The city had been under control of hundreds of fighters for the rebel Free Syrian Army.

The Al-Watan daily and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government troops were in control of Idlib on Tuesday. The Observatory said the army was still facing some resistance pockets in three Idlib areas, including the central neighborhoods of Dubait and Bustan Ghanoum.


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[David__77]

1. Russia supports a ceasefire and withdrawal from cities of all armed actors.

Troops can return to their barracks and armed insurgents can be placed in cantonments under UN supervision. A good model is Nepal in 2006. The problem is that the US and its closest partners will not support calling on the opposition to withdraw in concert with the Syrian army.

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Things do not appear to be going well for the rebels.