Six soldiers among 12 people killed in violence across Syria

TWELVE PEOPLE were killed during protests across Syria yesterday, said anti-regime local co-ordination committees as the official state news agency reported that six soldiers and three civilians had been slain and 17 wounded in an ambush by armed men on a bus near Hama.

The latest fatalities took place during a visit by Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who arrived in Damascus on Saturday for talks with President Bashar al-Assad on access to restive areas and prisons. During a June visit, the ICRC secured permission for Syrian Red Crescent tours to regions gripped with unrest, including Latakia, Homs, Hama, Deir al-Zor and Idlib, with the aim of surveying the needs of the populace. The ICRC seeks prison visits as essential since human rights groups say 10,000 people have been detained since the revolt began in mid-March.

In response to the ratcheting up of pressure on the regime by the EU imposition of an embargo on the import of Syrian oil and the expansion of sanctions against individuals and firms, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov argued that “unilateral sanctions will do no good”. In coming days Dr Assad is expecting a visit from Arab League secretary general Nabil al-Arabi who said, “I will express Arab concerns and I will listen.” Damascus initially rebuffed league intervention and delayed Mr Arabi’s visit. The organisation is leery of exerting too much pressure on Dr Assad as stability in Syria is regarded as essential for regional security.

The government insists that armed groups allied to foreign powers are behind the unrest in Syria but opposition activists claim that protesters seek an end to one-party rule and multiparty democracy.

Michel Kilo, a veteran opponent of the regime, has been sharply critical of its drive to solve political, social and economic problems with a security crackdown. He argued that the Syrian leadership has not made serious reforms intended to convince protesters to end the unrest and has “left no backdoor for the demonstrators” to return home. He suggested that harsh retaliation could ensue once protesters halted their demonstrations.

The official national dialogue involving delegates at the provincial level from parties, the regime, and the opposition is set to resume today. This gathering is to be a prelude to a national conference that will aim to accelerate implementation of reforms and shape a future vision for the country.