Members vote on a resolution on Syria in the United Nations Security Council. (AFP - Don Emmert) UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has said Syria agreed to complete a troop and heavy weapon withdrawal by April 10 under a six-point plan he devised to bring an end to a year-long crackdown on dissent that has left thousands dead."The Security Council demands that the Syrian government immediately implement its commitments to (a) cease troop movements towards population centres, (b) cease all use of heavy weapons in such centres, and (c) begin pullback of military concentrations in and around population centers," the statement says."The Security Council underscores the need for the Syrian government to begin immediately and verifiably to implement these commitments and to fulfill them in their entirety by no later than 10 April 2012," the text continues.The 15-member Council "calls upon the Syrian opposition to cease violence within 48 hours of the complete implementation of these measures by the Syrian government," it adds.The Council will request updates from Annan on implementation of the deal. Should that implementation be found to be lacking, "the Security Council will consider further steps as appropriate".It will express its "grave concern at the lack of implementation" so far.Upon a cessation of hostilities, the Council will ask the UN secretary general to devise an "effective and credible United Nations supervision mechanism in Syria," adding it "stands ready" to authorise that mechanism.Diplomats said that mechanism would likely be a 250-strong mission of unarmed observers, but such a mission would require a Security Council resolution authorising its deployment.The Council text also calls on all parties to respect a two-hour daily humanitarian pause, as called for in Annan's plan.Negotiations on the text -- distributed by Britain, France and the United States -- began on Tuesday. France's UN envoy Gerard Araud said he hoped it would be adopted late Wednesday or on Thursday.- AFP/wm
UN draft statement asks Syria to make good on pledges
A draft UN Security Council statement on Syria would ask Syria to respect an April 10 deadline to halt its military operations in protest cities, according to a copy of the text seen by AFP.The draft, seen by AFP on Tuesday, also urges the Syrian opposition to cease hostilities within 48 hours after the regime of President Bashar al-Assad makes good on its pledges. Members vote on a resolution on Syria in the United Nations Security Council. (AFP - Don Emmert) UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has said Syria agreed to complete a troop and heavy weapon withdrawal by April 10 under a six-point plan he devised to bring an end to a year-long crackdown on dissent that has left thousands dead."The Security Council demands that the Syrian government immediately implement its commitments to (a) cease troop movements towards population centres, (b) cease all use of heavy weapons in such centres, and (c) begin pullback of military concentrations in and around population centers," the statement says."The Security Council underscores the need for the Syrian government to begin immediately and verifiably to implement these commitments and to fulfill them in their entirety by no later than 10 April 2012," the text continues.The 15-member Council "calls upon the Syrian opposition to cease violence within 48 hours of the complete implementation of these measures by the Syrian government," it adds.The Council will request updates from Annan on implementation of the deal. Should that implementation be found to be lacking, "the Security Council will consider further steps as appropriate".It will express its "grave concern at the lack of implementation" so far.Upon a cessation of hostilities, the Council will ask the UN secretary general to devise an "effective and credible United Nations supervision mechanism in Syria," adding it "stands ready" to authorise that mechanism.Diplomats said that mechanism would likely be a 250-strong mission of unarmed observers, but such a mission would require a Security Council resolution authorising its deployment.The Council text also calls on all parties to respect a two-hour daily humanitarian pause, as called for in Annan's plan.Negotiations on the text -- distributed by Britain, France and the United States -- began on Tuesday. France's UN envoy Gerard Araud said he hoped it would be adopted late Wednesday or on Thursday.- AFP/wm
Members vote on a resolution on Syria in the United Nations Security Council. (AFP - Don Emmert) UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has said Syria agreed to complete a troop and heavy weapon withdrawal by April 10 under a six-point plan he devised to bring an end to a year-long crackdown on dissent that has left thousands dead."The Security Council demands that the Syrian government immediately implement its commitments to (a) cease troop movements towards population centres, (b) cease all use of heavy weapons in such centres, and (c) begin pullback of military concentrations in and around population centers," the statement says."The Security Council underscores the need for the Syrian government to begin immediately and verifiably to implement these commitments and to fulfill them in their entirety by no later than 10 April 2012," the text continues.The 15-member Council "calls upon the Syrian opposition to cease violence within 48 hours of the complete implementation of these measures by the Syrian government," it adds.The Council will request updates from Annan on implementation of the deal. Should that implementation be found to be lacking, "the Security Council will consider further steps as appropriate".It will express its "grave concern at the lack of implementation" so far.Upon a cessation of hostilities, the Council will ask the UN secretary general to devise an "effective and credible United Nations supervision mechanism in Syria," adding it "stands ready" to authorise that mechanism.Diplomats said that mechanism would likely be a 250-strong mission of unarmed observers, but such a mission would require a Security Council resolution authorising its deployment.The Council text also calls on all parties to respect a two-hour daily humanitarian pause, as called for in Annan's plan.Negotiations on the text -- distributed by Britain, France and the United States -- began on Tuesday. France's UN envoy Gerard Araud said he hoped it would be adopted late Wednesday or on Thursday.- AFP/wm
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