Syria: rebel army issues ultimatum on ceasefire

“After the barbarous massacre of women and children at Houla … we
announce that there is no more justification for us to unilaterally respect
the truce because Assad has buried Annan’s plan,” the FSA statement
added.

The rebels demanded that the regime adhere to all six points of the Annan
plan: an immediate ceasefire; an end to all forms of violence; tanks and
armoured vehicles out of civilian areas; humanitarian access to all regions;
the freeing of political prisoners and protesters; and access by the media
to all parts of the country.

Thirteen bound corpses, many apparently shot execution-style, were discovered
on Wednesday in the eastern Deir el-Zour province, blindfolded with their
hands tied behind their backs.

A statement by the UN mission said some appeared to have been shot in the head
at close range.

The FSA also demanded a commitment by Assad’s regime not to attack the UN
observer mission overseeing the truce, “and the opening of serious
negotiations through the United Nations to deliver power to the people.”

More than 10,000 people have been killed, mostly civilians, since an uprising
erupted against Assad’s regime in March 2011, according to the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights.

el group said they would abandon the truce unless the ultimatum was met.

“If the Syrian regime does not meet the deadline by Friday midday, the
command of the Free Syrian Army announces that it will no longer be tied by
any commitment to the Annan plan … and our duty will be … to defend
civilians,” it said.

The ultimatum followed reports by the UN of two massacres of civilians in the
past week, leaving April 12 ceasefire negotiated by UN-Arab League peace
envoy Kofi Annan in tatters.

More than 100 people died, including 49 children and 34 women, in the central
town of Houla.

Some were blown to bits by artillery and tank fire but most were summarily
executed, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“After the barbarous massacre of women and children at Houla … we
announce that there is no more justification for us to unilaterally respect
the truce because Assad has buried Annan’s plan,” the FSA statement
added.

The rebels demanded that the regime adhere to all six points of the Annan
plan: an immediate ceasefire; an end to all forms of violence; tanks and
armoured vehicles out of civilian areas; humanitarian access to all regions;
the freeing of political prisoners and protesters; and access by the media
to all parts of the country.

Thirteen bound corpses, many apparently shot execution-style, were discovered
on Wednesday in the eastern Deir el-Zour province, blindfolded with their
hands tied behind their backs.

A statement by the UN mission said some appeared to have been shot in the head
at close range.

The FSA also demanded a commitment by Assad’s regime not to attack the UN
observer mission overseeing the truce, “and the opening of serious
negotiations through the United Nations to deliver power to the people.”

More than 10,000 people have been killed, mostly civilians, since an uprising
erupted against Assad’s regime in March 2011, according to the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights.

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