Monday, April 30, 2012

VOA News: Middle East: Syrian Blasts Target Security Buildings

VOA News: Middle East
Middle East Voice of America
Syrian Blasts Target Security Buildings
Apr 30th 2012, 09:46

Syrian activists say blasts in the northwestern city of Idlib have killed at least 20 people.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the blasts targeted security buildings and killed mostly security force members.

Syria's state news agency says armed attackers have fired rocket-propelled grenades at the Syrian Central Bank.

The SANA agency says the bank building was damaged during Monday's attack in the capital, Damascus, but no one was hurt. The agency also reports that what it described as "armed terrorists" fired rocket-propelled grenades at a police patrol in the capital, wounding at least four police officers.

Monday's attacks come hours after the newly appointed head of the U.N. observer mission in Syria called on President Bashar al-Assad's troops and the opposition to stop fighting so that the tenuous cease-fire can take hold.

Major General Robert Mood arrived Sunday in Damascus to lead an advance team of 30 unarmed U.N. observers tasked with monitoring an April 12 truce that has been plagued by continued fighting.

The Norwegian general appealed for an end to all armed violence, but said U.N. monitors cannot solve all the problems in Syria, asking for cooperation from forces loyal to Assad as well as rebels seeking to end his rule.

Even as he spoke Sunday, activists reported at least 25 people killed in violence throughout the country, including 14 civilians shot dead by troops in the village of Hamadi Omar in central Hama province.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based group tracking the conflict, said other fatalities included two people killed by government snipers in Homs, and three soldiers who died in clashes with army defectors.

The latest casualty figures as well as the claim for the attack Friday could not be independently confirmed.

Since the truce was put in place, forces loyal to Assad have continued assaulting opposition hubs, while rebel fighters have repeatedly ambushed government security personnel. Each side has accused the other of provoking attacks.

The U.N.-backed cease-fire is part of a peace plan mediated by international envoy Kofi Annan.

A spokesman for the U.N. mission in Syria said observers have set up permanent bases in the towns of Homs, Hama, Daraa and Idlib, all areas of the opposition targeted in the government's 13-month crackdown.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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