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| Syrian rebels urge Annan to declare end of ceasefire - live updates | Syrian rebels urge Annan to declare end of ceasefire - live updates |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 11.04am: A member of the security forces was killed when an improvised explosive device went off at Aleppo university, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. | |
| It said five others were injured in the attack which occurred at a park beside the electrical engineering department. | |
| The activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees in Syria, reports that UN observers have arrived at the scene. | |
| 10.40am: UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has called on Syria to stop its attacks, saying UN observers monitoring the ceasefire were not there to watch the killings of innocent people, AP reports. | |
| Ban was speaking Thursday at a summit of the Alliance of Civilizations, a forum promoting understanding between the Western and Islamic worlds, days after more than 100 people were massacred in Syria's central Houla region. | |
| According to UN reporter Colum Lynch, Susan Rice the US ambassador to the UN, expressed concern about the fate of UN monitors in Syria, at a closed session of the security council yesterday. | |
| Susan Rice, behind close doors, tels UNSC that UN monitors r like "300 sitting ducks in a shooting gallery one IED from a disaster" dip. | |
| — columlynch (@columlynch) May 30, 2012 | |
| The UN's Twitter account has a little more on what Ban's comments: | |
| #UNSG: I demand that the Government of #Syria act on its commitments under the #Annan peace plan. | |
| — UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) May 31, 2012 | |
| #UNSG on Syria: The massacre of civilians of the sort seen last weekend could plunge #Syria into a catastrophic civil war. | |
| — UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) May 31, 2012 | |
| 10.32am: More gloom about Syria. Israel fears its northern neighbour is becoming a failed state and is planning accordingly, Reuters reports. | 10.32am: More gloom about Syria. Israel fears its northern neighbour is becoming a failed state and is planning accordingly, Reuters reports. |
| Syria is heading for collapse and will become a "warehouse of weapons" for Islamist militants as it descends into chaos, a senior Israeli army commander said. | Syria is heading for collapse and will become a "warehouse of weapons" for Islamist militants as it descends into chaos, a senior Israeli army commander said. |
| "Syria is in civil war, which will lead to a failed state, and terrorism will blossom in it," said Major-General Yair Golan, making a rare public appearance at a conference at Bar Ilan University on Wednesday. "Syria has a big arsenal." | "Syria is in civil war, which will lead to a failed state, and terrorism will blossom in it," said Major-General Yair Golan, making a rare public appearance at a conference at Bar Ilan University on Wednesday. "Syria has a big arsenal." |
| The Arab republic's stock of mainly Russian-made weapons includes surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles and marine missiles. | The Arab republic's stock of mainly Russian-made weapons includes surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles and marine missiles. |
| It also possesses chemical weapons which Syria never used in its wars against Israel but which could be attractive weapons for militants, the general said. | It also possesses chemical weapons which Syria never used in its wars against Israel but which could be attractive weapons for militants, the general said. |
| "The risk to Israel is taking shape," said Golan, who is commander of Israeli forces on the border with Lebanon and the disengagement line with Syria in the Golan Heights. | "The risk to Israel is taking shape," said Golan, who is commander of Israeli forces on the border with Lebanon and the disengagement line with Syria in the Golan Heights. |
| "The challenge we are facing is a huge one," he added, according to a translation. | "The challenge we are facing is a huge one," he added, according to a translation. |
| The Israel Defence Forces were "deeply engaged in getting ready, with plans and physical means" along the borders, the Northern Command chief said, without offering specific details. | The Israel Defence Forces were "deeply engaged in getting ready, with plans and physical means" along the borders, the Northern Command chief said, without offering specific details. |
| 9.55am: Token gesture? | 9.55am: Token gesture? |
| The Syrian government has released 500 political detainees two days after peace envoy Kofi Annan urged the Assad government to show commitment to his plan by freeing prisoners. | The Syrian government has released 500 political detainees two days after peace envoy Kofi Annan urged the Assad government to show commitment to his plan by freeing prisoners. |
| "500 people involved in the events taking place in Syria, without blood on their hands, have been released," a newsflash on state TV read, Reuters reports. | "500 people involved in the events taking place in Syria, without blood on their hands, have been released," a newsflash on state TV read, Reuters reports. |
| The fourth point of Annan's six-point plan calls on the Syrian government to: | The fourth point of Annan's six-point plan calls on the Syrian government to: |
| Intensify the pace and scale of release of arbitrarily detained persons, including especially vulnerable categories of persons, and persons involved in peaceful political activities, provide without delay through appropriate channels a list of all places in which such persons are being detained, immediately begin organizing access to such locations and through appropriate channels respond promptly to all written requests for information, access or release regarding such persons. | Intensify the pace and scale of release of arbitrarily detained persons, including especially vulnerable categories of persons, and persons involved in peaceful political activities, provide without delay through appropriate channels a list of all places in which such persons are being detained, immediately begin organizing access to such locations and through appropriate channels respond promptly to all written requests for information, access or release regarding such persons. |
| 9.43am: The head of the Free Syrian Army, Colonel Riad Asaad, has muddied the waters by denying that his forces have issued the Syrian government with a deadline demanding instead that Kofi Annan declares the ceasefire over so that rebels can carry on military operations. | 9.43am: The head of the Free Syrian Army, Colonel Riad Asaad, has muddied the waters by denying that his forces have issued the Syrian government with a deadline demanding instead that Kofi Annan declares the ceasefire over so that rebels can carry on military operations. |
| Speaking to al-Jazeera, Asaad, he said: | Speaking to al-Jazeera, Asaad, he said: |
| There is no deadline, but we want Kofi Annan to issue a declaration announcing the failure of this plan so that we would be free to carry out any military operation against the regime. | There is no deadline, but we want Kofi Annan to issue a declaration announcing the failure of this plan so that we would be free to carry out any military operation against the regime. |
| He claimed that rebel forces had so far honoured their commitments to the plan. | He claimed that rebel forces had so far honoured their commitments to the plan. |
| 9.25am: If the UN security council cannot deliver swift action to pressure Syria to end the violence, member nations may have no choice but to consider acting outside the United Nations, Susan Rice, US ambassador to the UN, warned yesterday. | 9.25am: If the UN security council cannot deliver swift action to pressure Syria to end the violence, member nations may have no choice but to consider acting outside the United Nations, Susan Rice, US ambassador to the UN, warned yesterday. |
| She warned of the dangers of "a proxy conflict with arms flowing in from all sides." In this case she said, "members of this council and members of the international community are left with the option only of having to consider whether they're prepared to take actions outside of the Annan plan and the authority of this council." | She warned of the dangers of "a proxy conflict with arms flowing in from all sides." In this case she said, "members of this council and members of the international community are left with the option only of having to consider whether they're prepared to take actions outside of the Annan plan and the authority of this council." |
| 9.15am: Brown Moses, a regular commenter to this blog, has a grisly collection of the latest videos from Houla. | 9.15am: Brown Moses, a regular commenter to this blog, has a grisly collection of the latest videos from Houla. |
| Storyful cross checks some of the latest videos from Houla with statements made by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. | Storyful cross checks some of the latest videos from Houla with statements made by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. |
| 8.56am: "We will look back on May and say 'this was the month that civil war began in earnest in Syria'," an activist who, until now has played down sectarian tension, told the BBC's Paul Wood. | 8.56am: "We will look back on May and say 'this was the month that civil war began in earnest in Syria'," an activist who, until now has played down sectarian tension, told the BBC's Paul Wood. |
| Wood, who spent three weeks undercover in nearby Rastan, said most people in Syria think the UN peace plan will fail. He said: | Wood, who spent three weeks undercover in nearby Rastan, said most people in Syria think the UN peace plan will fail. He said: |
| There is no ceasefire, and the threat to lift the ceasefire by the Free Army will just mean business as usual. | There is no ceasefire, and the threat to lift the ceasefire by the Free Army will just mean business as usual. |
| 8.21am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. Both sides in the conflict in Syria are ignoring Kofi Annan plea to lay down arms. The rebel Free Syrian Army has threatened to resume attacks against the Assad regime if it fails to stop the violence. There's little sign of that happening with fresh reports of shelling against Houla where more than 100 people were massacred last week. | 8.21am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. Both sides in the conflict in Syria are ignoring Kofi Annan plea to lay down arms. The rebel Free Syrian Army has threatened to resume attacks against the Assad regime if it fails to stop the violence. There's little sign of that happening with fresh reports of shelling against Houla where more than 100 people were massacred last week. |
| Here's a roundup of the latest developments: | Here's a roundup of the latest developments: |
| • Syrian rebels have given Bashar al Assad a 48-hour deadline to abide by an international peace plan to end violence or face consequences, the BBC reports. | • Syrian rebels have given Bashar al Assad a 48-hour deadline to abide by an international peace plan to end violence or face consequences, the BBC reports. |
| name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> name="flashvars" value="endpoint=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/may/31/syrian-rebels-assad-deadline-video/json"> In a video statement, Colonel Qassim Saadeddine said: "The joint leadership of the Free Army inside Syria announces that it is giving the regime a final 48-hour deadline to implement the resolutions of the UN security council. It ends on Friday at 1200 [1000 BST]; then we are free from any commitment and we will defend and protect the civilians, their villages and their cities." | |
| • Western efforts remain focused on trying to persuade Russia to exert pressure on President Bashar al-Assad, despite Moscow's continuing insistence that it will block any form of forced regime change in Syria. Gennady Gatilov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, said UN security council pressure on Syria was "premature", Gatilov said, adding that Russia would use its veto to block any initiatives on foreign military interference. | • Western efforts remain focused on trying to persuade Russia to exert pressure on President Bashar al-Assad, despite Moscow's continuing insistence that it will block any form of forced regime change in Syria. Gennady Gatilov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, said UN security council pressure on Syria was "premature", Gatilov said, adding that Russia would use its veto to block any initiatives on foreign military interference. |
| • "We will cut Assad's throat" residents of rebel held Houla chanted when Channel 4 became the first UK broadcaster to reach the town after last week's massacre. | • "We will cut Assad's throat" residents of rebel held Houla chanted when Channel 4 became the first UK broadcaster to reach the town after last week's massacre. |
| Reporter Alex Thomson writes: | Reporter Alex Thomson writes: |
| There is an overwhelming and searing grief. What can you say? What can you do? What can you offer an elderly man, Abdul Hamad, who knows not only that his daughter was killed but that her throat was hacked with a knife, it seems, wielded by men who live just a few miles distant. | There is an overwhelming and searing grief. What can you say? What can you do? What can you offer an elderly man, Abdul Hamad, who knows not only that his daughter was killed but that her throat was hacked with a knife, it seems, wielded by men who live just a few miles distant. |
| • Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja'afari, said the Channel 4 news report should be ignored, insisting that terrorists were responsible for the massacre at Houla, the New York Times Lede blog reports. | • Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja'afari, said the Channel 4 news report should be ignored, insisting that terrorists were responsible for the massacre at Houla, the New York Times Lede blog reports. |
| In a somewhat bizarre exchange (captured in full, about 22 minutes into video posted on the UN Web site), Ja'afari pleaded with the Channel 4 News correspondent in New York, Matt Frei, to ignore the work of his colleague in Syria, Alex Thomson, and wait for President Bashar al-Assad's commission of inquiry to publish its findings later this week. "Don't base your information on reports," Ja'afari told the reporter. | In a somewhat bizarre exchange (captured in full, about 22 minutes into video posted on the UN Web site), Ja'afari pleaded with the Channel 4 News correspondent in New York, Matt Frei, to ignore the work of his colleague in Syria, Alex Thomson, and wait for President Bashar al-Assad's commission of inquiry to publish its findings later this week. "Don't base your information on reports," Ja'afari told the reporter. |
| • The US insists it is close to making a deal with Russia to remove Assad from power. "We are making progress, Denis McDonough, the deputy national security adviser told the US Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, without going into details. "The Assad regime has lost its legitimacy to lead. We don't believe it's in the Russians' interest to be associated with the Assad regime." | • The US insists it is close to making a deal with Russia to remove Assad from power. "We are making progress, Denis McDonough, the deputy national security adviser told the US Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, without going into details. "The Assad regime has lost its legitimacy to lead. We don't believe it's in the Russians' interest to be associated with the Assad regime." |
| • Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, suggested there is little hope left for a political settlement, after hearing security council briefing on Kofi Annan's mission to Damascus, the New York Times reports. Annan's deputy, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, who gave a private video briefing to the security council, said the council members had "an understanding that any sliding toward a full-scale civil war in Syria would be catastrophic and the Security Council now needs to have that kind of strategic discussion on how that needs to be avoided." | • Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, suggested there is little hope left for a political settlement, after hearing security council briefing on Kofi Annan's mission to Damascus, the New York Times reports. Annan's deputy, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, who gave a private video briefing to the security council, said the council members had "an understanding that any sliding toward a full-scale civil war in Syria would be catastrophic and the Security Council now needs to have that kind of strategic discussion on how that needs to be avoided." |
| • Kofi Annan flew out of Damascus yesterday amid news of fresh atrocities on the ground, the Independent reports. Even as Mr Annan's observer mission announced the discovery of the bodies of 13 Syrians who appeared to have been summarily executed. | • Kofi Annan flew out of Damascus yesterday amid news of fresh atrocities on the ground, the Independent reports. Even as Mr Annan's observer mission announced the discovery of the bodies of 13 Syrians who appeared to have been summarily executed. |
| • Annan is in an impossible situation Richard Gowan, an expert on UN peacekeeping at New York University tells Julian Borger. | • Annan is in an impossible situation Richard Gowan, an expert on UN peacekeeping at New York University tells Julian Borger. |
| Gowan said Annan now finds himself in a deepening dilemma, with his peace plan stalled and ignored inside Syria, facing a split security council back in New York, and under fire for providing a fig-leaf to mass murder. "If the UN pulls out, on the other hand, and there another escalation of violence, Annan could be accused of walking out on a dialogue too early. So its a lose-lose situation." | Gowan said Annan now finds himself in a deepening dilemma, with his peace plan stalled and ignored inside Syria, facing a split security council back in New York, and under fire for providing a fig-leaf to mass murder. "If the UN pulls out, on the other hand, and there another escalation of violence, Annan could be accused of walking out on a dialogue too early. So its a lose-lose situation." |
| • Middle East and security analyst James Denslow likens the current diplomatic pressure on Syria to the ineffectiveness of global efforts to tackle climate change. | • Middle East and security analyst James Denslow likens the current diplomatic pressure on Syria to the ineffectiveness of global efforts to tackle climate change. |
| The Annan plan is like the Kyoto Treaty, the best and only game in town but completely unsuited for the scale of what it is trying to address. The world's major powers are trapped in a comfortable inertia. The Europeans and the Americans are happy to make diplomatic gestures, like throwing out Syrian Ambassadors, and talking about how the Assad regime has lost legitimacy, but their biggest effort to unite the Syrian opposition remains half-baked to say the least. The Chinese and the Russians meanwhile, still smarting from being conned on Libya UNSCR 1973 and with deep strategic and economic ties with Syria, are stonewalling any movement at the United Nations. | The Annan plan is like the Kyoto Treaty, the best and only game in town but completely unsuited for the scale of what it is trying to address. The world's major powers are trapped in a comfortable inertia. The Europeans and the Americans are happy to make diplomatic gestures, like throwing out Syrian Ambassadors, and talking about how the Assad regime has lost legitimacy, but their biggest effort to unite the Syrian opposition remains half-baked to say the least. The Chinese and the Russians meanwhile, still smarting from being conned on Libya UNSCR 1973 and with deep strategic and economic ties with Syria, are stonewalling any movement at the United Nations. |