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Subscribe to RSSTwo Syrian cities are under bombardment on the day Syrian president Bashar al-Assad had agreed to comply with a UN brokered peace plan. ITN's Paul Davies reports.
Syria's assurance that its forces are complying with a cease-fire deal have been condemned as a "blatant lie" by France, as 32 people were reportedly killed even after guns were supposed to be silent.
In scarcely diplomatic language, the French foreign ministry spokesman said: "The Syrian foreign minister's statements this morning, affirming an initial implementation of the Annan plan by the Damascus regime, are a fresh expression of this blatant and unacceptable lie.”
"They are indicative of a feeling of impunity against which the international community absolutely must react," the spokesman, Bernard Valero, told reporters in Paris.
Visiting Moscow, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem had earlier said troops were already pulling back from cities in line with a peace plan brokered by international envoy Kofi Annan.
But, citing Syrian sources and satellite images, Valero said "none of the elements" of Annan's plan had been implemented.
"There is what the regime's representatives are saying and then there is the reality," he said. "On average 100 people are dying each day and it continues. Today, Syrian security forces are still firing on populated areas and using heavy weapons, armored vehicles and helicopters. That's the reality."
Syria truce prospects fade; US 'outraged' by new attacks
The worst bloodshed on Tuesday was in the city of Homs, where shelling of opposition districts killed at least 26, activists said. Opposition groups said there was no sign of a military pullout, with tanks still in cities such as Homs and Hama.
Nor did rebels immediately stop shooting. The anti-Assad Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said insurgents killed six soldiers in attacks on checkpoints on an eastern desert road.
As the end-of-day deadline loomed for Damascus to implement the ceasefire plan, -Moualem demanded guarantees from the peace plan’s author, U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, that armed insurgents would also honor any truce.
"We will not ask the terrorist groups, which are killing, kidnapping and destroying infrastructure, for guarantees. We want Annan to give us these guarantees," Moualem said in Moscow.
The last-minute demand, a variant of one Syria made at the weekend, is not mentioned in Annan's proposals and looks designed to complicate his struggle to get all parties to comply with a six-point plan that is so far largely a dead letter.
The rebel Free Syrian Army will fight on if Assad fails to withdraw troops and tanks from in and around cities as required, a spokesman, Colonel Qassem Saad al-Deen, told Reuters.
PhotoBlog: Colleagues mourn TV cameraman shot dead on Lebanon-Syria border
The opposition Syrian National Council said a partial ceasefire was unacceptable and government forces should stop all violence on Tuesday. Its spokeswoman, Basma Kodmani, also told a news conference in Geneva that arrests, house demolitions and shelling by tanks and anti-aircraft guns were continuing.
An Arab League monitoring effort collapsed in January as intensifying violence made a mockery of an Arab cease-fire plan.
Assad's forces have killed more than 9,000 people in the past year, according to a U.N. estimate. Damascus says rebels have killed more than 2,500 soldiers and security personnel.
The violence has alarmed Syria's neighbours, especially Turkey which already hosts almost 25,000 Syrian refugees. At least five people, including two Turkish citizens, were wounded by cross-border fire into a refugee camp in Turkey on Monday.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused Assad of personal responsibility for killing civilians and threatened an unspecified response to the cross-border shooting.
"He is continuing to kill 60, 70, 80, 100 every day," Erdogan said during a visit to Beijing. Assad's troops were "mercilessly" shooting fleeing women and children in the back.
Reuters and msnbc.com's Alastair Jamieson contributed to this report.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Syria shells Hama on cease-fire deadline day
- Amid Iran tensions, neighbor becomes den of spies
- A rare peek inside North Korea
- Tunnel linked to looming North Korea nuclear test? South Korea thinks so
- Leftist rebels kidnap natural gas workers in Peru
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
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...Duh. Newsflash, North Korea and Iran aren't seriously thinking of halting their pursuit of nuclear weapons either.
Yea, I don't know why everyone can't stay out of everyone eles business. Always have to embargo this, or send a peacekeeping effort over here. New idea, don't get so involved in other countries affairs, and we will all be happier.
'Cause, nukes can cross borders. Do you really want a country in desperation (like N. Korea) or a country ruled by religious zealots (like Iran) to have access to nuclear arms? I'd be just as uncomfortable if Santorum was President and the USA had less freedom, you never want a religious zealot (it doesn't matter what religion) to have that kind of destructive power.
Thankfully, our government has a system of checks and balances (even if they're doing a horrible job). Iran is essentially ruled by the Supreme Ayatollah and N. Korea speaks for itself.
Being an isolationist doesn't work either. However, I applaud France for just telling it like it is. The rhetoric says one thing, but the actions say differently. Syria is in the middle of a civil war. What to do about it, may be out of our hands. If the Arab nations are disturbed by this civil war, they have the option of stepping in and stopping it.
The US is broke. We need that same honesty from this administration. Our revenue projected this year does not YET meet the revenue we saw in 2007, and yet our spending has increased by 28.5 percent. On top of that our gross federal debt has increased 84 percent since 2007.
We need a dose of reality. We can't help others when we refuse to fix our own problems FIRST.
The boys
I agreed with you until your anti Obama rant which had NOTHING to do with the subject.
Hello Alex, why are you worrying about other countries using nukes? There has been only one “country” (actually a corporation) ruthless enough to use nuclear weapons against men, women, and children. Actually they did it twice! In case you didn’t know who that “country” (corporation) was it was the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CORP.
You will hear the ignorant ranting about how it was ok because the UNITED STATES has such high ethical and moral standards. They will try and spin it into a positive stating the so many more people would have died if we didn’t give the Japanese people Uranium and Plutonium fallout with each of them having a half life of 700 million years and 24,100 respectively.
On August 6, 1945, at 9:15 AM Tokyo time, a B-29 plane, the "Enola Gay" piloted by Paul W. Tibbets, dropped a uranium atomic bomb, code named "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, Japan's seventh largest city. In minutes, half of the city vanished. According to U.S. estimates, 60,000 to 70,000 people were killed or missing, 140,000 were injured many more were made homeless as a result of the bomb. Deadly radiation reached over 100,000. In the blast, thousands died instantly.
Nagasaki was an industrialized city with a natural harbor in Western Kuushu, Japan. At 11:02 a.m., this bomb, known as the "Fat Man" bomb, exploded over the north factory district at 1,800 feet above the city to achieve maximum blast effect. Buildings collapsed. Electrical systems were shorted. A wave of secondary fires resulted, adding to their holocaust.
Flash burns from primary heat waves caused most of the casualties to inhabitants. Others were burned when their homes burst into flame. Flying debris caused many injuries. A fire storm of winds followed the blast at Hiroshima as air was drawn back to the center of the burning area. Trees were uprooted. The bomb took the lives of 42,000 persons and injured 40,000 more.
So please don’t preach nuclear proliferation ethics to other countries as we have been the only country to proliferate the atrocities of this evil device.
I'm worried about ANY country using nukes, thus I'm against any MORE countries getting access to them. As far as the US goes, you do realize it was to end a WORLD war where the US was first attacked by Japan without provocation right? EVERY country is corrupt, why would you want any more of them to have nuclear weapons?
It's time for Obama to 'Lead from behind' again.
Let's see now - who can we look to for real leadership? Oh yes - France again.
This is just christian propaganda.
You are kidding right? NEXT you'll be telling me that Iran really IS trying to build a nuclear weapon. Gasp!
What is remarkable is that these two countries feel need to lie at all. A REAL man would just say hey that's the way it is and if you don't like it go **** yourself. But no, they feel the need to come up with a charade instead. Even N. Korea feels the need to come up with a satellite charade to test a long range missile. Why??
'Cause when they lie they get incentives/aid in addition to still developing their nuclear weapon.
Alex the rebels lied or Kofi Annan lied,I never read any where the Syria regime would stop unless the rebels gave them in writting a truce to stop fighting. How many times has Israel held a truce only long enought for the Palestinians to re-supply? Looks like Assad knows his enemy would just regroup and re-supply if therewas a truce.
Yes, but would they have even started arming themselves to begin with if he hadn't responded to what were peaceful protests with slaughter?
Sorta reminds one of the "Arab Spring" countries where "protesters" wanted to get rid of suppressive governments with the help of the U.N., U.S., Arab league, and NATO.
"We" (rebels) want a "Democracy" but will suppress women when we take control of the country.
In Assad's case, he just wants to continue his suppressive regime using similar "stall" tactics by Iran and North Korea.
because as mentioned they get help from other
they gain time
they get psychological income (energy) by disrespecting us. control/power issue. like a child who pushes it and tries to control his and adults environment by misbehaving. they need a time out, and maybe a spanky.
Actually somebody has got to open a can of whoopass on them, and even though America is best able to apply the treatment I think Arabs should take care of Arabs, Asians take care of Asians, so on and so forth...Problem is we know they are permissive on one another and don't do much but talk. So we should let them die I guess.
France has started saying what many on this board have been saying for a long time. hopefully the UN convenes and tell Arabs should take care of Arabs, Asians take care of Asians, etc..
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. Asshead (Assod) is a joker to the very last end and his chemilion Alawhite clan be purged from Syria along with their best friend the Zionist annex're. It is just damn too bad that the oil sheikdom Arabs are weak in word (Arab League) and in fight by giving only money to the revolutionaries/liberators/Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah instead of heavy weaponry. And then you have modern day rulers/democracies around Syria stuck in a limbo and have let so many sunni causalities happen but Iran with its prowess plays the upper hand in Syria? That is just messed up, along with every other UN body that wants to say anything in the Syrian Revolution 2011. The rightful rulers of Syria, sunni, know how to be pluralistic, and ultimately will also win this, Inshallah.
Islam1 -- I hate to rain on your parade buddy but your holey Arab league and your holy Muslim Sunnis gulf states are nothing but a puppet to Israel and the Zionist you talking about ask how many Settlement Qatar and the Saudis helped build in Israel , Syria belong to the Syrian people , and if was not for the Christians Arabs you be speaking Turkish by now buddy , So do not give me these Crap , the Saudis and the gulf states still help Alquida till this day , and if we are smart in this country that's who we go after here , not the Syrians nor the Iranians , they have done nothing to us here , their only wrong doing , is they do not bow to Israel pressure and we have to side with Israel even when they are wrong , thanks to some Christians Conservatives that they believe that Jesus is coming back to Israel and that the Jews are god chosen people , strange thing here , they crucified our lord and we followed him , I still can not explain that one .
Blatant lies involving death and mahem? Iraq is on the brink of obtaining nuclear weapons. Iraq has masses of WMD. The Karzia election in Afghanistan is legitimate. Saudi Arabia was not involved with Al Quaeda and 9/11. Iraq is at peace ( yet the death toll in Iraq currently is about 60 per day ( rather similar to Syria it seems )- as a result of a low key war ), heroin production has been decreased in Afghanistan as a result of our intervention ( actually has increased from ~ 185 tonnes a year pre invasion to ~ 5800 tonnes a year now - UN figures ), Nicolas Sarkozy did not receive 50 million Euros from Ghaddaffi for his election campaign. Bottom line - there are so many why single this one out?
Simple solution. Have several anonymous drones target Assad. His whereabouts are not THAT secret
and WHY MR. DAVID-1023-- What did Assad do to us ? no Syrian was ever involved in any attack on us , Assad is the only leader in the whole middle east beside Lebanon that allow Christians to practice their religion freely , unlike our Saudis buddy's , and all these lies about these innocents rebels are nothing but lies . If you all Fing read , our own Generals telling you that Alquida is in Syria fighting the Assad regime , I mean you all tell me , Which side are we on here , its crazy .
I agree it's crazy. The world nations are like a flock of homer pigeons without a compass.
A lot of unarmed 17 year old black kids are being tracked down and murdered in Syria. Some of them look like what Obama's son would look like. Where's the outrage? Where's Jessee and Al? Where's ***Obama***??? Just like in Libya, we're waiting until most everyone has been slaughtered, while Hillary gives them a verbal warning...and another and yet another.
You are my Muslim Brother badadjoe! Remember to pray to Mecca and read your Koran. Vote for your Muslim Cleric during the election and throw the Communist Chinese out!
Then you can dress your wife in a pretty bag from head to toe like you want, instead of her party grey uniform. Join me and pray to Mecca like you want to!
Derek....I didn't even know you are a Muslim. So you think it's ok to murder people as long as they're muslims or "might be"? There's a lot of Christians in there too, Mr. Templar Knight or is that a Klan sheet...I can't quite see the little bitty avatar. Check out the demographics of Syria. Or I guess you go by "Kill them all, God will know his own"? Oh yes, ignorant one...it's "Bagdad" as in Kentucky, California, Arizona, or Florida...not Baghdad which is in Iraq. Kiss my little brown spot, wouldja?
Hahah, you are funny, my Muslim Brother! Allah says you are going to heaven, but not if you laugh too hard, because then your tongue will have to be cut out. Remember, vote for Cleric Romney in November, because the Chinese Democrats are Godless. Long live the Muslim Republican Party!
Your "Little Brown Spot" bagdadjoe? Does that mean you are a practicing Hindu?
Stalin would have lied back. He would have invited Assad and a Syrian delegation to Moscow for talks and then summarily execute the whole lot--- and then never respond to any inquires about what happened. Syria doesn't LIKE it, let them attack
Well, Russia and China voted no in a security council vote to go in and prevent the shooting, so they are in charge of the mess.
I have a thought.. it could be far off.. but...
after reading and watching the Syrian "issues"... I am actually starting to think that the Government might.. just might.. be right about there being a seperate "terrorist" group that is fueling the bloodshed in that country.
though the use of tanks and choppers seems a bit overdone.. but if an organized terror group uses the protestors as cover, then I don't see it being too dificult to cause much of the problems that have continued for this long.. all they have to do is stir up discontent locals.. easy enough in tough economic areas... then start shooting the police.. government realiates.. the public protests and you start shooting the cops in the middle of it and the cycle keeps going..
to everyone else it looks like the government is cruel and unyeilding and should be replaced..
but this is just a thought...
I'm just wundering is the people here in America are ever going to get the gonads to actually gonads to fight our corrupt corperate owned governemt and get our freedom that we like to brag about back...
we need another Jimmy Hoffa I think...
Several countries have admitted funding and supporting the insurgency/insurrection. Are reports of unmarked aircraft flying into Turkish bases near Iskenderum delivering Libyan weapons and possibly Libyan mercs. So is certainly being fueled from outside as well as for what is going on internally. Also as anyone who has been in a military knows, this kind of sustained operation is not possible without funding, logistics and material support. That implies cross border assistance. That makes inevitable cross border conflict. This can escalate badly as Turkey as one of the supporting nations has identical sectarian/ethnic divisions as found in Syria. At some point the Syrians may well start arming the disaffected in Turkey and elsewhere in retaliation. Refer to recent article in The American Conservative by Phillip Giraldi, and an article titled 'Run up to proxy war in Syria' in the asian times.
President Obama is controverting his statements in 2011 and behaving like a coward.
“To brush aside America’s responsibility as a leader and — more profoundly — our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are,” Obama said. (Except in an election year)
“Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. The United States of America is different,” (Except in an election year)
2011: “And as president, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action.”
2012: Coward.
Gosh Carl, pull yourself together man.
The geopolitical situation of Syria is truly one complicated mess. The various ethnicities, religions, political factions, the size and quality of the military, etc... make intervention difficult.
There is no UN mandate via the Security Council and without the legality of international law, there will be no assistance from European allies (aka - NATO).
It's cool, you don't like Obama and that is totally ok. Roughly 50% of voting Americans don't approve of him either. But non-intervention in Syria in a unilateral manner is truly the correct and smart thing to do. This is the application of RealPolitik, as opposed to an emotional response guised as a 'freedom agenda' (you probably remember all of those slogans from the previous administration...). In your mind, the president is a coward for not intervening. In my opinion, this is the correct thing to do. It just is not worth the lives of US and/or allied pilots to engage in a military action with no clear gains or goals and too many risks to quantify.
You've made the point the president is a coward. Totally cool. Most conservatives and AM talk radio listeners utter the same thing all day long. It's a rote reaction to anything associated with the current president. To really demonstrate your brilliance and insight, how about you provide all of us on newsvine with your perspective of a cost-benefit analysis for the US to intervene in Syria in a unilateral manner. By disagreeing with the administration's approach, by default you are supporting a more aggressive military action. So please list the reasons and rationale that you believe that our military and our tax dollars should be used to intervene in Syria and also to do this without support of allies and to violate international law. Hey, for all I know - you may have some really great reasons to go to war. I'd like to know. This would be a far more productive conversation than just hurling insults of cowardice against political opponents. What do you think? Let's see what you've got.
John McCain is no coward .. see the last half of this interview .. March 20, 2012 on Imus .. see it on mediaite search mediaite "romney imus mccain "
Carllloeber -- McCain is an Idiot with all respect , He want to send money to the protesters in Russia and he wants to bomb Iran , Are you serious buddy why don't you listen to our Generals that told us that Alquida and all the thugs from Libya are fighting in Syria and you want to send troops into Syria , I guess you do not have any family in the military , we want to send them everywhere to spread our democracy , Syrian troops are dying every day innocents civilians and Christians massacred every day on the hand of your beloved rebels , John McCain want to go to Iraq and he wants to send more troops to Afghanistan , he is a war monger and the only thing he care about is the companies that benefit from war just like Cheney and all of these hawks that want to go Iraq , Where are they now, they need to answer to the families of all of our fallen heroes and explain to them about sending their loved ones to a war that based on a lie , you need to buy a gun and take McCain with and go an liberate all of these countries that McCain wants to.
The whole country is in such disarray right now i'm sure no-one would notice if Assad suddenly "disappeared" from a sniper's bullet. I'm sure someone in close connection with him is having similar thoughts.
O.k. I'm the chosen one. You guys really need to understand that Politics do NOT run the world. You guys need to realize that the truce was not a lie. That Karma has been let into the world again in cross fashion. As long as the weather stays under control, I will allow it too continue. I did not sign up for the government to be a patsy like my grandfather. I am the Pentagon fellows. Just remember your next step decides the fate of the world.
this site will not allow links .. McCain said use the unmanned weapons to even the fight .. the White Hose could have done this 400 days ago ..
Promises promises...
The truth is Assad will do what he pleases, until someone bigger slaps him down. He has already proven to be untrustworthy, and his "word" is worth less than the paper it is printed on...
The powers that be aren't helping things either. Russia is practically complicit, giving weapons to be used against Assad's own people. And of course the rest of the world only seems to muster the equivalent of shaking its collective fist.
While I'm all for diplomacy, there does come a point where you can no longer bargain, particularly if the haggler in question has a gun in your face. The international community, on all sides must come down and actually put some teeth in the bite...otherwise Assad and countless others will continue to do as they please.
What part of Muslims killing each other is bad for us? We need to just move back a bit and let them kill each off, the more the merrier.
Bigot
Nope, not a bigot. Not a dumb ass either.
I'm glad you cleared that up for me. And you have friends....go figure!
Shhhhhhhhhhhh! Don't tell anyone they are braking the so-called truce. If we can just keep a lid on it for a few years, maybe we can rid ourselves of a few hundred thousand more jackas& Muslims in this world. Remember, if you are not with them, you are against them; whether they smile at you and tell you that you are a friend or not. We are the infidels and nothing we can do will change that. Fuc* every one of those pieces of low-life trash.
The real question is, "Why should we give a damn one way or the other?" We are disliked and hated all over this planet, and when someone bites off more than they can chew, they come crying to the good ole USA for US to fight their battles. We NEVER win the hearts and minds, but we sure as hell throw alot of borrowed money away to rebuild other people's countries. We have NO MORAL obligation to helping those that just a year or so ago chanted, rallied, and marched for our demise.
"Death to America" is what you sorry pigs chant when you don't need us, then when you are getting your asses stomped, it's "Where is America". Well sunshine, it don't work that way. The Great White Satan might be hated, loathed and held in disdain, but WE ARE FREE. Besides, according to your own "Holy Book", we are infidels and heathens, and to consort with US, is a damnable sin. But what you should be asking yourselves is, "If Allah is such a great and wonderful "God", then WHY does he let you suffer the tyranny of a dictator?" "Why do you need "The Western Satan" to free you from your hell. Buddists would call this Karma. I guess the next time you folks think about burning a US Flag, or an Ephogy, or start chanting "Death to America", you may want to reconsider, because ONE DAY you will come crying. And when that day comes, as we are now, we should just slam the door in your face.
The blood of MY COUNTRYMEN should not be sacrificed, not one drop, for an ungrateful group of people who's only concern is for themselves. You espouse the demise of Israel, but seem to forget, the 3 Day War, Israel reigned supreme. And they live right next door, why don't you bug them for aid? Oh that's right, they are the spawn of Satan, and just as evil as the infidels of America...
I wish I could shed a tear for your suffering, but alas, I can not, when your hatred towards my fellow countrymen is celebrated in your streets. As they say in my country of infidels, "you have made your bed, now lay in it."
"Syria truce claim is a blatant lie", say's France" ...................So what does France intend to do about it ? Slap Assad in the face with some bright white gloves ???
France wants us to go and destroy Syria so they and the British can go in and steal whatever Syria have wealth , just like they did in Libya and they are doing in Africa , they have been doing this for years , the Europeans are the evil ones , Hell i do not see Russia and China going into countries and doing that , they just have the reputation and the Europeans are the evil ones , let them try to pick on Russia or China they are bad ? aren't they
There is no more room for naivete about his slaughter of thousands of civilians. He won't stop--until he's stopped.
How do you know they are civilians and not rebels in civilian clothing? Or people who support the rebels? After all the way you stop a terrorist is to let them know their families are not any safer than they are when they strap on that suicide bomb.
What makes the rebels right? They are not backing down.Most of them are not even from Syria. Assad will stop when all rebel bullets stop flying.Why should he be the only one that has to backdown?
I sure hope our government learned to not follow the French into a war like Viet Nam.
SO Koffi Annan lied again? the Rebels did not give a written agreement to stop fighting so the fight rages on.
It is so comforting to think that Obama will not lift a single little finger to stop the senseless killing of innocent people. Am I talking about abortion or Syria? Of course, Obama will ignore Syria. With a million or two offspring slaughtered in the US each year, what is a few thousand Muslims?
Here is the Turk hypocrisy,from today's story:
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused Assad of personal responsibility for killing civilians and threatened an unspecified response to the cross-border shooting.
Here we have the truth from yesterday's story.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the incident began at about 4 a.m. Monday when opposition fighters attacked Syrian forces at the Salameh border crossing with Syria.
At the Turkish refugee camp, a protracted battle ensued between the rebels and Syrian troops trapped at the border crossing, said Rami Abdul-Rahman, a spokesman for the Observatory. Abdul-Rahman said several government soldiers were killed in the ambush.
Earlier Monday the Observatory said the Syrian rebels had killed at least six members of the Syrian security forces and customs officials in clashes near the border.
The fighting spilled over into Turkey when eight wounded opposition fighters escaped to the camp on the Turkish border and Syrian forces kept firing at them, Abdul-Rahman said.
Turkey uses murder and oppression to control the 19,000,000 Kurds in Turkey that want their freedom. The Turk needs to remember that all their neighbor states would be glad to supply arms to the Kurdish refugee's in their countries to fight the Turk. Threatening other nations is a good way to have them retaliate on you.
and that they should Uncle Bob 512 .I do not trust the Turks , They lie , they stole Syrian land after WW2 with the help of the Europeans , they Killed millions of Christians Armenians , but now they so so worried about the civilians in Syria give me Fing break .