Fears grow for ceasefire as Syria demands pledges from rebels

THE UN-brokered plan for a ceasefire appeared to be unravelling last night as Syria made new demands, saying it would not withdraw its forces from urban areas until rebels gave UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan written pledges that they would halt “all violence”.

In addition, Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi called for “written guarantees from the governments of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on stopping funding” to rebel groups.

“Syria is not going to repeat what happened in the presence of Arab observers when armed forces left towns” and armed groups seized “control of entire neighbourhoods”.

Mr Makdisi said Mr Annan told President Bashar al-Assad that “he would stop the violence, disarm armed groups [and] initiate a comprehensive national dialogue” with opposition movements. “It is this principle on which Syria accepted [his] mission and his six-point plan.”

In an attempt to show willingness to implement the Annan plan, Mr Makdisi said the government would continue to co-operate, “in the hope of obtaining guarantees”.

Col Riad al-Assad, on behalf of the rebel Free Syrian Army, insisted it would give no guarantees. Government troops should return to base and dismantle checkpoints, he said.

The Syrian National Council, the external opposition coalition, called on the UN Security Council to urgently adopt a resolution under Chapter 7, which determines threats to peace, to ensure the protection of civilians.

The council said it and the rebel Free Syrian Army “have announced their co-operation with the Annan plan and international efforts to halt the bloodshed and launch [the] transfer of power . . . to the Syrian people”.

Both sides accuse the other of stepping up attacks ahead of the deadline to gain ground. Mr Annan expressed shock at reports of “a surge in violence and atrocities . . . in Syria, resulting in alarming levels of casualties, refugees and displaced persons, in violation of assurances”.

He reminded the government of its commitment to implement his plan and urged all states to use their influence with “the parties . . . to ensure an end to the bloodshed and the beginning of dialogue”.

Mr Annan had set tomorrow as the deadline for government heavy weapons, armour and troops to be pulled out of cities and towns and demanded that all sides cease fire by Thursday.

These deadlines were endorsed by the UN Security Council and approved by all 15 members, who warned of “further steps” if there was non-compliance.

Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would take steps if the Syrian government failed to honour the deadline and he urged the UN to toughen its stance.