U.N. calls for up to 300 observers in Syria
- 12 years ago
Amateur video out of Syria shows ongoing shelling in Homs.
The video, which could not be independently verified by Reuters comes amid reports that 22 people were killed in Syria on Wednesday.
This comes as UN monitors are on the ground,. more than a week after a UN-backed ceasefire was declared.
Now UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is calling for more observers on the ground.
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) UN SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING:
"I have recommend that the council authorize a supervisory mission comprising 300 observers."
An earlier Arab League monitoring mission ended in failure and the team pulled out of Syria.
Also on Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is calling for full implementation of the UN peace plan saying that all roads lead to the end of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA, SAYING:
"Make no mistake, one way or the other, this regime will ultimately meets its end."
He also made clear that the international response in Libya is not a prelude for what will happen in Syria.
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA, SAYING:
"This is not libya, in libya there was widespread international support and NATO was able to operate. No such consensus exists in Syria, the opposition is also not as well organized."
The UN estimates that more than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising began more than a year ago.
The syrian government has blamed the violence on foreign backed in insurgent groups.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
The video, which could not be independently verified by Reuters comes amid reports that 22 people were killed in Syria on Wednesday.
This comes as UN monitors are on the ground,. more than a week after a UN-backed ceasefire was declared.
Now UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is calling for more observers on the ground.
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) UN SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING:
"I have recommend that the council authorize a supervisory mission comprising 300 observers."
An earlier Arab League monitoring mission ended in failure and the team pulled out of Syria.
Also on Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is calling for full implementation of the UN peace plan saying that all roads lead to the end of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA, SAYING:
"Make no mistake, one way or the other, this regime will ultimately meets its end."
He also made clear that the international response in Libya is not a prelude for what will happen in Syria.
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA, SAYING:
"This is not libya, in libya there was widespread international support and NATO was able to operate. No such consensus exists in Syria, the opposition is also not as well organized."
The UN estimates that more than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising began more than a year ago.
The syrian government has blamed the violence on foreign backed in insurgent groups.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.