As attacks in Syria continue, UN Security Counsel considers plan to end violence

Today in Syria, security forces fired on protesters in the suburbs of Damascus, Homs and Idlib leading to more killings, according to activists. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces had surrounded towns and mortar shelling in Homs led to civilian deaths.  The continuing violence comes as the UN Security Council considers a plan to seek an end to the political killings and violence in Syria that has gone on for more than ten months. The draft proposal, backed by the Arab League, calls for an end to the violence and a transition to democratic rule that would require President Bashar al Assad to handover power, according to media reports which cited drafts of the plan. But China and Russia, both permanent members on the Security Council, have criticized the proposal. Speaking today in Jordan, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called for countries to come together on the plan.

“The current meeting in the Security Council is crucially important. I sincerely hope that the Security Council members will be really united this time, speak and act in coherent manner, reflecting the wishes of the international community and reflecting the urgent and aspirations of the Syrian people.”

Several European countries - including Britain and France - have backed the Security Council plan. The United States has also pushed for approval. US Representative to the UN Susan Rice speaking Monday:

“The situation is deteriorating, it’s increasingly grave, more and more innocent people are dying. We’ve seen horrific reports of women and children and their bodies on display as a consequence of government-sponsored violence. That needs to end.”

Discussions on the Syria measure are expected to continue this week at the UN.