(VOVworld) - Syria continues to trouble the international community. Political analysts are anticipating an all-out civil war in Syria as hope fades for the success of the UN- Arab League Peace Plan. Despite international efforts and new parliamentary elections, violence continues in Syria, threatening to escalate out of control. Anh Huyen reports on the crisis.
In the latest development, a roadside bomb struck a Syrian military truck Wednesday just seconds after the head of the UN observer team drove by in a convoy, demonstrating the fragility of the international plan to end the country's bloodshed. Observers with the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), led by General Robert Mood, were on their way from Damascus to the southern city of Dar’a, under Syrian army escort. Escalating violence threatening to wreck the Peace Plan proposed by UN-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan. Mr. Annan on Tuesday announced that violence in Syria has decreased since the UN began its observation mission in the country but admitted that neither the government nor armed-opposition groups have suspended their violent activities. Annan warned that his peace plan would be “the last chance” to prevent a civil war.
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| Syrian crisis deepens; fears of civil war. Photo: internet |
Instead of supporting mediation efforts, some western countries, led by the US, continue to increase pressure and tighten sanctions to weaken President Bashar Al Assad’s government. US President Barrack Obama says the US will extend sanctions imposed on Syria for another year, citing unusual threat posed by Syria to the US national security. US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice accused Syria of not abiding by the peace plan put forward by the UN. She said that the US will continue to provide the opposition forces in Syria with logistical and communications help.
Thanks to foreign support, the rebel forces in Syria are able to continue their provocative and riot activities. The country’s recent parliamentary election is a case in point. Before the election, leaders of the opposition groups announced they would boycott the election, calling it a plot by President Assad to maintain his power and called on all voters to follow suit. A series of bomb attacks took place on Election Day, causing massive casualties. Bloody clashes in Aleppo and Damascus killed dozens of people. On May 6th, clashes between government troops and rebel gunmen from the eastern province of Deir Ezzor killed at least 6. But thanks to strong security measures, the election ran smoothly, despite being criticized by the US as a farce.
Syria faces huge challenges. The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Jakob Kellenberger, said the need for humanitarian aid in Syria is growing and ICRC has called for an aid package worth 27 million USD. Syrian Oil Minister Sufian Allaw said losses caused by western countries’ sanctions on Syrian oil exports have mounted to nearly 3 billion USD.
The international community is desperate to prevent an all-out civil war in Syria. Kofi Anna is expected to return to Syria in the next few weeks to persuade both sides to abide by the peace plan. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that the priority for the moment is to deploy more observers to Syria as soon as possible. There are already 130 observers in Syria and the number is expected to increase to 300 this month.
Anh Huyen