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Middle East and North Africa

Syrian opposition refuses to give authorities guarantees on ceasefire

According to the colonel, the SLA “does not recognize the Bashar Assad regime and will not give any guarantees”

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

BEIRUT, April 8 (Itar-Tass) — The Syrian opposition will not give written guarantees on a ceasefire to the country’s authorities, said on Sunday commander of the so-called Syrian Liberation Army (SLA), Colonel Riad al-Asaad, hiding in Turkey.

According to the colonel, the SLA “does not recognize the Bashar Assad regime and will not give any guarantees”. Al-Asaad emphasized that if the Syrian authorities abide by the plan of settling the conflict, submitted by special envoy of the UN and the Arab League Kofi Annan, and withdraw their troops from cities, SLA fighters will also lay down arms.

Earlier in the day, spokesman of the Syrian Foreign Ministry Jihad Makdessi said that the Syrian authorities would pull out government troops from cities if the opposition gives “written guarantees” on a ceasefire.

The UN Security Council adopted a statement on Syria on Thursday where it called on Damascus to fulfill urgently obligations on the settlement plan, submitted by Kofi Annan, under which the Syrian government should halt advance of troops to populated centres by April 10, stop any use of military hardware in such centres as well as start withdrawing troops, massed inside and outside cities in the country.

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