The Syrian opposition group known as the Syrian National Councilhas urged the United Nations to send armed peacekeepers to Syria.This request comes on the eve of the opening of the G20 summit in Mexico, where Syria is expected to be on the agenda of U.S. President Barack Obama during his meetings with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao.
According to AFP news, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council are expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in beginning on Monday in Mexico.
The SNC said it was “surprised” by the decision of UN mission chief in Syria Robert Mood to suspended operations of its 300 observers.
Syrian National Council is expected to hold another conference in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, supported by the Arab League. The date of the meeting has not been announced yet.
According to a report by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) dated Thursday, violence killed at least 3,353 people since April 12, the date of formal entry into force of the un cease-fire.
According to the Observatory so far violence in Syria has killed more than 14,400 people since an uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad erupted in mid-March 2011.
On the ground, The Syrian regime forces on Sunday intensified its bombing against Sunni neighborhoods of the city of Homs, in part controlled by the rebels, killing at least eleven people and wounding dozens more.
“Dozens of wounded were not treated after all local hospitals have been under the control of the Shabbiha (pro-regime militias). The dead are the lucky ones,” he said. This came one day after the UN observers suspended their operations following the upsurge in violence.
On Saturday, Shabbiha and forces loyal to al-Assad attacked towns and villages around Damascus, murdering dozens of civilians, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Regime forces conducted sweeps in which groups of young men were arrested.
Meanwhile, also on Saturday official Syrian News Agency (SANA) reported that Syrian security forces stormed a den of an armed terrorist group near Damascus and killed al-Qaida-linked terrorist ring leader Walid Ahmad al-Ayesh, following armed clashes.
According to SANA, al-Ayesh was the mastermind behind all the car bombings in Damascus in recent months that killed and injured hundreds. A large number of weapons and ammunition were reportedly seized by Syrian authorities during the operation.
