UNITED NATIONS, December 8. /TASS/. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for avoiding violence and protecting the rights of Syrians in the current situation.
"I reiterate my call for calm and avoiding violence at this sensitive time, while protecting the rights of all Syrians, without distinction," he said in a statement released by his press service.
"There is much work to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions," he emphasized. "We will need the support of the international community to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity. Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity must be restored".
Syria’s armed opposition units launched a large-scale offensive on government troops in the Aleppo and Idlib governorates on November 27. By December 7, Syrian President Bashar Assad’s opponents had seized several large cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, and Homs. On Sunday morning, they entered Damascus and government troops withdrew from the city. Following intra-Syrian talks, President Assad stepped down and fled the country.