A spokesman for the United Nations special envoy to Syria says Syrian soldiers are harassing civilians who speak with U.N. monitors. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday denounced the intimidation, saying that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will face additional international action, if he does not comply with a two-week-old cease-fire.
The spokesman for U.N. and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan says Syrian security forces are targeting civilians who meet with U.N. monitors.
Spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told U.N. television that monitors in Syria need a "stronger presence."
"They are entering areas where there has been conflict, like Homs and Hama," said Fawzi. "And when they go, the guns are silent. We have credible reports that when they leave, the exchanges start again, that these people who approach the observers may be approached by security forces or [the] Syrian army and harassed or arrested or even worse - perhaps killed. And this is totally unacceptable."
Secretary Clinton denounced the Syrian government's alleged reprisals.
"It is absolutely deplorable, if there is this kind of intimidation, harassment and possible violence against those Syrians who have every right to meet with and discuss the situation with the monitors," said Secretary Clinton. "That's what the monitors are there for."
An initial deployment of six monitors has been strengthened to 11, with the United Nations saying that a larger team of 300 is expected in the near future. But the cease-fire continues to unravel.
Following talks with Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, Secretary Clinton told reporters that President Assad must comply with all six points of the Annan plan, including the withdrawal of heavy weapons.
"The bulk of the responsibility rests with Assad and with his supporters and with his military to demonstrate a commitment to the Annan plan by silencing the guns," she said.
Clinton said the United States has seen no evidence of Syria's intention to comply with the totality of the Annan plan, so the Obama administration is working with allies on alternatives.
"Unfortunately, the Assad regime has broken its commitments time and again," said Clinton. "So even as we work to help deploy the monitors, we are preparing additional steps in case the violence continues or the monitors are prevented from doing their work."
Among those additional steps, Secretary Clinton has spoken of returning to the United Nations for a resolution authorizing outside military force.
Russia and China have blocked previous attempts at tougher U.N. action. Despite an international cease-fire, the Syrian government says it will respond to what it calls "armed terrorists."
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