Activists say Syria ceasefire bound to fail
- 12 years ago
After Friday prayers in the Syrian town of Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, thousands gather in the main square for the weekly anti-government demonstration.
Opponents of President Bashar al-Assad have vowed to continue peaceful protests, in accordance with a U.N.-backed ceasefire, despite their belief the Syrian government will not adhere to the agreement.
Armed members of the Free Syrian Army patrol the streets to secure the demonstration.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED MEMBER OF FREE SYRIAN ARMY SAYING (WHILE DRIVING):
"We will not stop protecting the peaceful protests. We are following Annan's plan, but we can't trust the Assad government, and they don't keep their word. They have continued shelling and attacking the protests."
The U.N. monitoring mission is seen as the last chance to avoid civil war in Syria.
But this fighter says the government is lying to and manipulating the international community, and that the killing will not stop.
Protests are continuing across Syria, and the U.N. Security Council is voting on Saturday on a draft resolution to send up to 300 more unarmed military observers to monitor the ceasefire progress.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
Opponents of President Bashar al-Assad have vowed to continue peaceful protests, in accordance with a U.N.-backed ceasefire, despite their belief the Syrian government will not adhere to the agreement.
Armed members of the Free Syrian Army patrol the streets to secure the demonstration.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED MEMBER OF FREE SYRIAN ARMY SAYING (WHILE DRIVING):
"We will not stop protecting the peaceful protests. We are following Annan's plan, but we can't trust the Assad government, and they don't keep their word. They have continued shelling and attacking the protests."
The U.N. monitoring mission is seen as the last chance to avoid civil war in Syria.
But this fighter says the government is lying to and manipulating the international community, and that the killing will not stop.
Protests are continuing across Syria, and the U.N. Security Council is voting on Saturday on a draft resolution to send up to 300 more unarmed military observers to monitor the ceasefire progress.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.