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Fabio Bucciarelli / AFP - Getty Images
A look back at the violence that has overtaken the country
United Nations peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi hopes to persuade Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad to comply with a four-day truce during the Muslim holiday marking the Hajj, which begins Oct. 25, but many in the opposition remain skeptical about his plan.
Brahimi, who arrived in the capital Damascus on Friday afternoon, will meet Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem on Saturday morning, said the U.N. spokesman in Damascus, Khaled al-Masri. He did not say whether the envoy would meet Assad.
"We will talk about the ceasefire and the Syrian issue in general. It is important to decrease the violence - we will talk with the government and political parties and civil society about the Syrian issue," Brahimi told reporters upon arrival.
The violence showed no sign of abating, with opposition activists reporting heavy street clashes in Aleppo, Syria's biggest city, and intensified army bombing of towns along the strategic north-south highway. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby backed a ceasefire. "The longer the violence lasts, the more difficult it will be to find a political solution and rebuild Syria," they said in a joint statement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called for all sides to observe the three- or four-day ceasefire.
"It is important that the Syrian regime, which bombards its own people with fighter planes and helicopters, halts these attacks immediately and unconditionally," Davutoglu said in Ankara.
Iran also backed the ceasefire call but added that the main problem in Syria was foreign interference - a reference to support for the rebels by Gulf Arab states, the United Sates and other Western powers, and Turkey.
"We consider the establishment of an immediate ceasefire an important step in helping the Syrian people," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian said, as quoted by Mehr news agency.
"Syria has taken important steps against terrorism and foreign interference and is pursuing political reforms and the security of the country."
Most opposition forces doubt Syria will comply with what they see as another toothless initiative. The largest opposition group, the Syrian National Council, has thrown its support behind the initiative but will hold the Syrian government responsible for any violation.
“The last time [a cease fire was agreed upon], the Syrians [who support Assad] violated it the first day. I hope this time they will respect it,” says Khaled Khoja, council representative and spokesman in Turkey. “I hope this time they will accept it, allow people to express their ideas peacefully, release prisoners and withdraw their forces from cities.”
Although Khoja says the Free Syrian Army, an umbrella organization for defected soldiers and armed opposition, has conditionally accepted the truce, its fighters will respond if attacked first by Syrian government forces. Khoja, like many in the opposition, worries that the initiative will fail because there is no penalty to compel the regime to observe the ceasefire.
Syrian helicopter reportedly downed by rebels over Idlib
“There must be a mechanism in order to make the Syrian regime comply. If there is no mechanism, the Syrian regime will continue to do the same.”
Rafif Jouejati, the Washington, D.C. based spokeswoman for the Local Coordination Committees, the largest activist network inside Syria, believes the truce is destined to fail.
“It is a feeble attempt by the international community that has no timeline, no consequences for failure to observe it, no consequences for continued bombardment. Since there are no consequences, any plan will fail and [Assad] will continue to kill civilians. It carries the same weight as a U.N. condemnation," she said.
U.N. Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is calling for a four-day cease-fire in Syria next week to mark a Muslim holy day. NBC's Stephanie Gosk reports.
"Unless there are actual consequences, it is meaningless. I have relayed messages to Brahimi from the protesters: ‘Welcome to Syria on your mission impossible. Why didn’t you send Tom Cruise?’ It is an insult to the people who go out everyday and brave the bombing and bullets.”
Syrian government forces strike rebel held towns
Jouejati said this was the fourth attempt at brokering a ceasefire deal. “Assad has proven he is not going to look for political solutions. He has confirmed it through word and deed and will continue his security solution.”
A Britain-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, doubts Brahimi’s ability to influence armed elements, whether they're on the opposition or government side. Brahimi cannot control Jebhat al Nusri, a jihadist militia, said director Rami Abdulrahman. "He cannot control what is happening on the ground," Abdulrahman said. "He doesn’t know how many Syrian troops are on the ground.”
More than 30,000 people have been killed over 19 months in the intensifying conflict.
More weapons in Syria could trigger 'all-out war'
There is little agreement among the many armed rebel militias who are temporarily unified by the desire to topple Assad. Although the Free Syrian Army reportedly supports the truce, a senior commander in Daraa, a Syrian city on the border with Jordan and the starting point of the revolution, told the British Guardian newspaper, “Brahimi’s proposal for a truce is stillborn.
“His project does not have any hope. Even if [exiled FSA leader] Riad al Assad accepts the truce, we will not. We will continue to fight," Staff Col. Ahmad Fahd al-Nimah, commander of the military council in Daraa, told the Guardian. "We represent those fighting on the ground in Syria. No one outside Syria can tell us what to do.”
An activist reached by phone in the same city told NBC News the people in the streets of Syria do not accept the ceasefire. Da’il, who gives only his first name for security purposes, believes the regime will use the ceasefire to fortify military positions.
“Before, when the Arab League and U.N. sent in peacekeeping observers, peaceful protesters were still being shot at. How can there be a ceasefire now, when there is nobody on the ground to observe it? No way will it work. Right now there is a roadblock with a sniper in front of me. If I walk out I will get shot. There is no way to stop the fighting. It is going on all the time,” he said.
Da’il went on to express the public’s cynicism toward the initiative: “There is a local saying here: If somebody tries something and fails, he is crazy if he tries the same thing again.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
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More heavily biased reporting by the US media over the conflict in Syria. Syria's armed forces are conscripted from the population, so tell me why would they kill their own people? Their military is not made up of professional mercenaries like the US. If you were drafted into the military would you then turn your guns against your fellow countrymen? Wouldn't there be massive desertions and rebellion if that were the case?
These "Syrian Rebels" of the so-called "Free Syrian Army" are not even Syrian, they are jihadis who come from outside and are mercenaries who are backed by the USA, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and their allies. They are using jihadi terrorists to try to topple a regime that doesn't bow down to them, much like they did against the Soviets in Afghanistan. If the FSA has success then Syria will become another destitute @!$%# hole run by Muslim extremists just like Afghanistan is today.
I'd agree that this uprising is a 'jihad' of sorts - of the Sunni vs. Shiite variety anyways - but I don't think it's the result of foreign influence. Certainly though this "Pro-Western" element of the Free Syrian Army that Wolf Blitzer, MSNBC, and any yuppy that's ever spent a weekend in Damascus, tell us about is either very small or non-existent. The daily suicide/car bombings on civilian targets should leave little doubt as to what these Free Syria people are all about.
How right you are DJ001.
@DJ001 - I have said the same thing many times. Most of these "rebels" are not rebels at all. They are nothing more than religious fanatics who want control for themselves. While some may have been living in Syria all along, this does not mean that they really are or ever have been part of mainstream Syrian society. These so-called "rebels" do not want to establish a free and open society in Syria, they simply want to take over and institute their particular brand of Islam and Sharia Law and the law of the land. They will persecute and/or execute anyone who does not go along with their views of how people should worship and live. As bad as people try and make Assad out to be, at least under Assad the people of Syria are free to live and worship as they choose. Assad may be an Alawite himself, but his government has been by an large a secular minded one. The same can not be said of any of the current "rebel" groups fighting to overthrow Assad. As for Turkey, they need to stay out of this fight and stop providing support to these "rebels". The Turkish government needs to stop allowing these "rebels" to base themselves and launch their attacks from Turkish soil. The same goes for the US and the other Arab states. They need to stop interfering in the internal affairs of Syria and let them resolve this civil war for themselves. These outside fighter that are streaming into Syria are religious fanatics. If Assad does fall it will by no mean bring an end to the fighting. The fighting will only turn from the "rebels" fighting against Assad the the different "rebel" groups fighting against each other for control. The fall of Assad will not only not make things any better, it will result in Syria falling into complete chaos with no functioning central government for a very long time to come as the different "rebel" groups fight it out for control city by city and town by town.
.I don't care if you're a democrat or a republican you MUST watch the 2016 movie before you vote!!!! LIFE CHANGING! This movie truly should be watched by both parties!!!!
Everything will become eerily clear as the direction of our country we all love...well most!!!!
Once you watch it..you will be doing the same thing I'm doing now!!!! Guaranteed!!!!
.I don't care if you're a democrat or a republican you MUST watch the 2016 movie before you vote!!!! LIFE CHANGING! This movie truly should be watched by both parties!!!!
Everything will become eerily clear as the direction of our country we all love...well most!!!!
Once you watch it..you will be doing the same thing I'm doing now!!!! Guaranteed!!!!
.I don't care if you're a democrat or a republican you MUST watch the 2016 movie before you vote!!!! LIFE CHANGING! This movie truly should be watched by both parties!!!!
Everything will become eerily clear as the direction of our country we all love...well most!!!!
Once you watch it..you will be doing the same thing I'm doing now!!!! Guaranteed!!!!
What kind of peace, or for that matter country, can come out of so many groups seperated and wanting nothing to do with each other. Each wanting their own little section of land. Governed under their own religious laws. Unable to even consider living amongst each other obeying a general law of the land or respecting each others? With each group wanting the government to provide and do right by them but with so many different cultures, that doing right by one, is doing wrong to another. Can anyone really govern a divided land of divided people, with such a drastic range in the simple ideals of right and wrong, without a heavy hand?
Perhaps it is time to divide these ME countries into what the people are trying to make them. Then let them all move to their respective close minded countries. Nationalities replaced by religious name, Sunni State, United Shiites, Criptic Catholand, Kroashastan, and a Mixagoway, were the non religious, non fanatics, can live under decided laws. And all the rest can live and die by their countries religious laws. If your Sunni and stay in the United Shiites land then don't complain if they persecute you if you don't live by their Shiite laws.
Let them segregate themselves into their own little mad lands, just like they are doing now, but give them territory boundaries and be done with it. If they can't get along with themselves then, they'll have no one to blame, but themselves. When the rest of the world has finally had enough and turns their new little countries into parking lots.
I fear for the ME to be peaceful and of any use to anyone, that waiting out the radiation fallout, will be the shorter wait, to the day everyone and anyone, will be welcome there.
You bet!
Many have not learnt lessons from Iraqi wars, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia and others.
Many in the US, Britain and Europe are used to dancing and singing as directed by the bigoted Sunni Saudis, oil companies, lobbyists and extremist Jews like Netanyahus.
What we have to do in Syria and Iran?
Followers of Islamic cult, especially Sunni Saudi inspired Islamic radicals and militants (al-Qaida, Salaffi, Wahhabi, MB, Taliban and other label ones), are fast marching backwards to their seventh century desert tribal days.
They are indulging in rapings, lootings, killings and genocides of non-Muslims (Darfur, S. Sudan, Nigeria and spreading like wild fire in many regions and Muslims (Libya, Yemen, Mali, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other places).
Sunni Saudi backed Salaffi and MB new chapters are opening up in Egypt. Just watch the fate of Christians, women and Israel as the time goes by.
Even in Syria, if Assad is overthrown by Sunni Islamic religious Nazis like al-Qaida, MB, the conditions of Christians will be unbearable just like Iraq.
Pakis and Sunni Saudis and co are responsible for 80 percent of world problems including economic ones.
Examine the devastations with Iraqi wars and now sanctions on Iranian oil and the resultant oil price manipulations.
They are making the lives of their own people also miserable by their Islamic religious madness to the intolerable levels.
The Syrian civil war was created by the Leading From Behind Band of Brethen (US/Obama-TUrkey/Erdogan-Egypt/MB.Nour.Jama;al al Islamaiya which is AQ Zawahiri's terror org in Egypt- Qatar-some Saudis) yesterday this site did not report the Hell On Earth Airstrike in Maaret al-Numan near Aleppo where over 49 killed- dozens injured. Can be seen on video http://aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article15633667.ab )Ett helvete pa jorden= A Hell on Earth; they need doctors,medicines,surgical supplies, nurses..these people are innocent civilians caught in the middle of civil war -not one of their making. There are 30,000 'freedom fighters' about 10% are jihadis (terrorists trained in terro camps.seasoned from the Libyan civil war -Benghazi terrorists and their hardware from that war). Obama as one of the Arab Spring Brethen miscalculated big time in assessing what it takes to oust Bashar al=Assad-Obama re-established diplomatic relations with Syria in order to put pressure on Isael to cede Golan Heights to Assad -then came Egypt-Libya. Next Jordan and they cannot count which side Obama takes in that conflict- the odds are Muslim Brotherhood.
.I don't care if you're a democrat or a republican you MUST watch the 2016 movie before you vote!!!! LIFE CHANGING! This movie truly should be watched by both parties!!!!
Everything will become eerily clear as the direction of our country we all love...well most!!!!
Once you watch it..you will be doing the same thing I'm doing now!!!! Guaranteed!!!!
See the jokes going in Syria with Sunni Saudi rebels, al-Qaida, MB on one side and the Assad’s forces on the other sides!
Just check all languages of the media, UN Security council, human rights groups, Erdogan’s, and others! These are paid pipers of Sunni Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists.
Shiites and Sunnis are busy battling whose Allah is greater.
What roles Hillarys, McCains, Netanyahos, Libernanns, Romneys have in Syria and Iran?
If atrocities and barbarism on girls, children and women are the criteria, then the most despotic, autocratic and bigoted Sunni Saudi ruler with his 5000 princes and princesses, Kuwaiti, UAE and other Arab League Sunni rulers and their rich sheiks are the biggest culprits in the history.
Through the Muslim immoral trafficking gangs, these barbarians have assembled all varieties of poor and helpless girls and women from all over the world in their harems and brothels.
In killing of opponents again, these people have established world records in religious battles.
If the US, Britain and others support such Sunni barbarians and beasts who treat girls and women as cheap sex slaves, then one can only conclude that Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists determine what to see, how to lecture and where and when to act.
Rest like “human rights”, “killing of children and women”, “militants”, “terrorists”, “WMDs”, “chemical weapons” and so on are a pure hoax.
Similar hoaxes were played each time before Iraqi wars on directions of Saudi, oil companies and their lobbyists.
Now none of them are looking into Iraq, where at least a million have been killed and devastated.
Twice are too much to tolerate.
@Mimi
You are full of it and must be a
member of the GOP and in fact it is the GOP who’s rattling swords toward our involvement
in Syria.
For God’s sake do we need to send more of our young men to a Muslim country only to have them invite more radical militants to kill them?
Don't blame this continued crap on Obama!
Get a grip or go yourself, get a gun and learn how to use it or STFU! Yes I'm VET!
.I don't care if you're a democrat or a republican you MUST watch the 2016 movie before you vote!!!! LIFE CHANGING! This movie truly should be watched by both parties!!!!
Everything will become eerily clear as the direction of our country we all love...well most!!!!
Once you watch it..you will be doing the same thing I'm doing now!!!! Guaranteed!!!!
See how people look in one direction.
Many are just ignoring or forgetting the Saudi inspired Islamic radicalism and terrorism in Nigeria, Egypt and other places right now going on!
Barbaric and beastly bigoted Sunni Saudis and outsourced their dirty work to Turkey and now via to the US, Britain and others before their Sunni Arab League dramas in Syria!
The head of the Saudi and their Arab League observers to Syria Sudanese Gen was responsible for the genocides of at least 300000 Christians in Darfur!
Send in Seal Team Six and put a bullet in Assad's head. Done!
Nuke the MF's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To hell with them jihad on their country!!!!!!!!!!
.I don't care if you're a democrat or a republican you MUST watch the 2016 movie before you vote!!!! LIFE CHANGING! This movie truly should be watched by both parties!!!!
Everything will become eerily clear as the direction of our country we all love...well most!!!!
Once you watch it..you will be doing the same thing I'm doing now!!!! Guaranteed!!!!
Who cares about the opposition! Isn't this Muslim versus Muslim? Once again the Sunni's hate the Shia and they both hate the Alawite. This has been going on for thousands of years with no let up. If the US has any brains and I am beginning to doubt it we will just turn around and walk away. Sorry that innocents get killed and maimed on both sides but they are doing this to themselves.
Estupid...
The end is near! Repent you sinners!!
We have no roles in centuries old Shiites vs Sunni battles in Syria, Iran or any other place.
Britain should kick out Syrian Observator for Human Rights, front end for Sunni Islamic killers like al-Qaida, MB, Salaffi, Wahhabi, Taliban and others.
What do the seventh century Sunni Islamic barbarians and beasts know about human rights, women rights, democracy and so on?
Most of the nations are in economic mess. Remove the sanctions on Iranian oil and crash the oil prices.
Let people not give us cruel jokes on Iran like before Iraqi wars. Pakis have plenty of nukes for sale or stealing!
These muslim are going to be muslim no matter where they are or what ever country they are in, just a matter of time before it start what ever country they are in. For they want complete control of the others. If you put a suit on a Sunni, a Shia and a Alawite, could I tell the difference in one or the other??? I don't think so!
But like the old saying goes, you can take the boy out of the country, but you can not get the country out of the boy!!! I think this take care of us all!...
These people have to learn to live together, and do the best for their country. Divided the government equal between the three, let the people of each group vote on 3 people, who they want in the government to represent them. No weapons allow in the city where the government is housed! In case of a tie on any vote in the government, Have one extra man well educated, form one of the group for a month, then one from the other group for a month, then the other. put a number on a piece of paper, 4=Sunni's 5=Shia 6=Alawite then have one man from each group to get a coin that has a head & tails or different on each side. to match to see which group drawn first. odd man out 1 first, then the other tw0 calls flips coin and call while in the air same or opposite, the one that called it right is one that win and drawns first. then rotate this each month the rest of the years. So say that a Sunni win the draw, then he pull a piece of paper that is equally folded so that no number can be seen, drawn on piece of paper, what ever that number is that group has the tie breaker for a month. So if a Sunni draw a number 6 then the Alawite has the extra man for a month only to break a tie. that number is taken out of the hat until the next three month drawing start over. this is so each group will have a tie breaker from their group each three months. Ooh! If any one group or person from that group start trouble all the time, take him out at High noon cut his head off, the let the people of that group vote another one in. After a few head fall you might see some of these people working for the good of their country that they all have to live in and share with each other, no matter if you don't like what they do or stand for. but in the end it is a better life for all groups concerned living together in peace. They all will have to join each other to get rid of the thugs in each group that causes all the problems, then they will have a country they can share and each group has a good life for their family, with no more worry about looking behind them all the time when they are out. They might even learn that hey we all are people, and we all want the same things in life, to have a good life for their family. and education for their children..
I dream some times, and by way I am not a politician, but I still blame something or someone for my misspell words or pun, or what ever is wrong it my keyboard... I could make a good politician don't you think???? or maybe it big birds fault, or even bush.. Or I could be checking our the people on the board to see if we have any intelligence here, they say if you get the first couple of letter right your brain can make out the word, neat huh!! so if I hear a lot of complaints then I know we don't have too many intelligence on these boares????;))Happy Saturday