Kofi Annan Speaks Out Against Syria for Ignoring Ceasefire Pact
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Jason Kempin/FilmMagic(NEW YORK) — United Nations special emissary Kofi Annan thought that he has an agreement from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government to stop the year-long crackdown on pro-democracy forces but, as usual, al-Assad has proven untrue to his word.
Rebel groups say, if anything, the fighting has grown more intense, with government forces intent on creating as much havoc as possible before the April 10 deadline when fighting is supposed to end and soldiers and artillery are to be withdrawn from Syria’s cities.
Obviously dismayed by the failure of his six-point plan to bring peace to Syria, Annan pleaded Thursday, “All points of the plan are crucial, but one is most urgent: the need for cessation of violence.”
Addressing the U.N. General Assembly by video link from Geneva, Annan went on to say, “We must silence the tanks, helicopters, mortars and guns, and stop all other forms of violence, too: sexual abuse, torture, executions, abductions, destruction of homes, forced displacement and other such abuses, including on children.”
It’s estimated that over 9,000 lives have been lost since March 2011 as al-Assad tries to crush all political enemies to secure his hold on power.
Just this week alone, at least a few hundred people have died in Syria, anti-government forces have alleged, which has had the U.S. and international community questioning the viability of Annan’s peace plan.
Damascus said again Thursday that it was complying with the proposal but there has been little evidence of that happening.
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