SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — The United Nations has suspended its mission to Syria after the government of Bashar al-Assad not only failed to abide by UN agreements to halt violence, increased attacks on civilians.
“There has been an intensification of armed violence across Syria over the past 10 days,” said Gen. Robert Mood, who heads the UN Supervision Mission in Syria.
“This escalation is limiting our ability to observe, verify, report as well as assist in local dialogue and stability projects — basically impeding our ability to carry out our mandate.”
The situation, Mood said, was too high risk for the unarmed monitors.
In the wake of the U.N. announcement, an opposition group reported fresh bloodshed in the Damascus suburb of Saqba.
At least 13 people died, including nine who were stabbed to death, the Local Coordination Committees (LCC) of Syria said.
A 6-year-old child was among the stabbing victims.
The group also reported relentless attacks by government forces that terrorized cities and towns across Syria.
At least 38 people were killed Saturday, the LCC said.
The government also said 27 soldiers and police were buried Saturday, according to the state-run Syrian-Arab News Agency.
At least 14,000 civilians have been killed since the uprising began in March of last year, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported. — www.shafaqna.com
