UNITED NATIONS — International envoy Kofi Annan told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that the situation in Syria is “bleak,” and expressed alarm at reports that government troops are still carrying out military operations in towns where U.N. observers are not present.
He expressed particular concern at media reports that government troops entered the central city of Hama on Monday after U.N. observers departed, firing automatic weapons and killing a significant number of people. “If confirmed, this is totally unacceptable and reprehensible,” he said.
The joint U.N.-Arab League envoy said the speedy deployment of the 300-strong U.N. observer force authorized by the council on Saturday is “crucial” to verify what is happening on the ground. The observer force also would provide a basis for moving toward a cease-fire by the government and opposition, he said.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.