UN observers start to leave Syria after mandate expiry
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E-mail Xinhua, August 19, 2012
UN observers start to leave Syria after mandate expiry
DAMASCUS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Members of the UN Supervision Mission to Syria (UNSMIS) started Sunday to leave the unrest-torn country as their faltering mission officially expires at midnight Sunday.
Sources told Xinhua that the remaining 100 observers will be leaving Syria gradually, adding that by Aug. 23, the observers should all be gone.
Six observers left Syria on Sunday and headed to the Lebanese capital Beirut, sources said.
Sources told Xinhua that seven military observers as well as five civilian ones will stay in Syria to run the new political office whose establishment had been agreed upon last Thursday at a UN Security Council's meeting.
The UN observer mission started in Syria in April. During the first days, a notable pacification has prevailed, however, such tranquility did not take hold and the clashes raged on once again.
On Thursday, the UN did not extend the mandate of the UNSMIS, agreeing instead to establish a civilian office in the capital Damascus that is seen by many experts as a good step that would guarantee an incessant UN presence in Syria.
The UN Security Council also appointed on Thursday Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi as new special envoy to Syria to replace Kofi Annan, who declared his resignation earlier this month due to the ongoing violence.
On Saturday, Babacar Gaye, head of the UNSMIS, said he was frustrated that the mission's main goal in achieving the full cessation of violence was not accomplished. However, he expressed comfort that the UN presence in Syria will not be stopped despite the expiry of his mission.
He said the UN will stay committed to ending violence and promoting dialogues among all parties. Enditem
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