Norwegian General heads UN observer mission in Syria

Norwegian General Robert Mood is heading the UN observer mission in Syria, reports Agence France-Presse, citing an official statement by the Organization.

Ban says Syria violating its pledge

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the Syrian government is violating its pledge to remove heavy artillery from residential areas.

At a news conference on Friday in the Indian capital, New Delhi, Ban said a UN monitoring team has observed the weapons in populated areas.

Arab League convenes over latest regional issues

Dialogue only way in Syria – Bogdanov
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE )urges UN to impose arms embargo on Syria

Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi (L front) and Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and chairman of the session Khaled al-Hamed al-Sabah (C

UNSC seeks to issue president’s statement

Laaska News Apr. 16, 2012

At the United Nation’s Security Council, the United States– which holds a rotating chair this month– seeks to adopt a president’s statement condemning North Korea’s missile launch last week.

UN Security Council authorizes deployment of unarmed truce observer team to Syria – RT

Laaska News Apr. 14, 2012
 UN Security Council approves monitors’ deployment to Syria

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously agreed to send an initial team of unarmed truce observers to Syria.
.

The resolution, which authorizes the dispatch of an advance team of up to 30 unarmed military observers to Syria to monitor compliance with the ceasefire agreement, passed 15-0.

Syrian opposition taunts ceasefire with mass rally

Thousands are thronging the streets in Syria after opposition called for mass rallies. Fears of fresh violence are running high as reports come in suggesting the country’s fragile ceasefire has been broken after at least three protesters were killed.

UN experts are bound for Syria

Laaska News  Apr. 13, 2012

A technical group of UN experts headed by Norwegian General Robert Mood is to go to Syria on Friday to prepare the field of work for the mission of international observers, UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon reported at a press-conference in Geneva.

First reports of violence after Syria ceasefire deadline arrives – RT

Laaska News  Apr. 13, 2012

A Syrian army tank is seen in the neighbourhood of Zabadani, near Damascus (Reuters / Handout).  RT.
. 

The UN-brokered ceasefire aimed at curtailing the conflict has already been marred with reports of violence. Despite the fragile truce, Kofi Annan says the Syrian government is yet to withdrawal its troops and heavy weapons from major urban areas.

Syrian govt: ‘We have begun troop withdrawal’

Laaska News  Apr. 10, 2012

By RT

An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube on April 9, 2012 shows Syrian troops deploying in Saqba on the outskirts of Damascus (AFP Photo/Youtube).- RT

The Syrian foreign minister says the Assad regime has withdrawn troops from several provinces. The president has until the end of Tuesday to pull out all forces ahead of a planned ceasefire between conflicting sides.

Many Syria solutions but little agreement in out-of-sync UN

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has pleaded for a divided Security Council to “pull back from the brink of a deeper catastrophe” over Syria. But as war continues to tear apart the Middle Eastern country, diplomatic unity is nowhere to be found.

Amos allowed to enter Syria

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos has received permission of the Syrian government to enter the country, Interfax reports.

Damascus accuses UN of double standards

The UN resorts to double standards with regard to the Syrian authorities and the opposition, and conducts talks with Damascus in a “hostile tone.” This was stated by Syria’s Permanent UN Representative Bashar al-Jaafari at a meeting of the UN General Assembly. “How can the international community combine

SNC ‘halfway to recognition’ by Friends of Syria – RT

Burhan Ghalioun (C), President of the SNC, at the Friends of Syria Conference in Tunis, on February 24, 2012 (AFP Photo / Pool / Jason Reed) 

The Friends of Syria meeting in Tunisia has gone halfway to recognizing the Syria’s opposition umbrella group the National Council as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. And promised more pressure and sanctions on the existing regime.

‘Only political solution will resolve Syrian crisis’ – UN chief

The international meeting of ‘Friends of Syria’ which has concluded in Tunisia has promised more pressure and sanctions on the Syrian regime. Meanwhile the UN chief underlined that only a political solution will solve the crisis in the country.

Kofi Annan appointed UN-Arab League envoy to Syria

Laaska News Feb. 24, 2012

Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan (Reuters / Leif R. Jansson / Scanpix)

New UN resolution unlikely to change Russia and China’s minds on Syria – RT

Laaska News  Feb. 12, 2012

Syria’s Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja’fari on the floor before a vote on a resolution on Syria. (AFP Photo / Don Emmert)  – RT

A week after vetoes from Russia and China put an end to a UN resolution on Syria its supporters are coming back with another draft.

Up in arms: Iraqis say radicals are smuggling weapons to Syrian opposition

Laaska News  Feb. 12, 2012

Iraqi deputy interior minister Adnan al-Assadi told AFP that “weapons are being smuggled from Mosul through the Rabia crossing to Syria, as members of the same families live on both sides of the border.”

‘Foreign military in Syria raises ghost of Libya’ – RT

Laaska News Feb. 10, 2012

Reports of a foreign military presence aggravating the situation in Syria have prompted a prominent Duma member to issue a warning about a disastrous repeat of the military intervention in Libya.

UN resolution would have brought no peace to Syria – Medvedev

Laaska News Feb. 9, 2012

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev . Photo: RIA Novosti

President Medvedev has clarified the reasons behind Moscow’s veto on the UN resolution on Syria for the prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

US closes embassy in Syria, UK recalls ambassador

Laaska News  Feb. 6, 2012

UK foreign secretary William Hague speaking in Parliament on Monday -RT

The United States has shut down its embassy in Syria. The announcement comes amid mounting reports of lethal government attacks. The UK has followed the suit, summoning their ambassador from Damascus.