PHOTO: United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi
LATEST: Daraa Report Given To Brahimi Focusses On Barrel Bombings
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Regime and opposition delegation begin the second round of “Geneva II” discussions on Monday.
The first round of talks, which lasted 10 days, ended on January 31 with little advance on both the general issue of a political transition and specific issues like humanitarian relief.
The opposition delegation, headed by the Syrian National Coalition, wants President Assad to step down as a transitional governing authority is established. The regime delegation says the focus of discussions must be on the “terrorism” of the insurgency.
United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is scheduled to see the opposition representatives in the morning and their Damascus counterparts in the afternoon.
Senior Assad advisor Bouthaina Shaaban, a leading member of the regime delegation, has already dismissed the representatives on the other side, telling Iran’s Al Alam TV, “We don’t know whom representing those who came by the name of opposition, how many, and what is their relation to Syria.”
Daraa Report Given To Brahimi Focusses On Barrel Bombings
A report given to UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi by representatives from Daraa province focusses on attacks against civilians by barrel bombs.
Daraa report given to Brahimi focuses on heavy bombardment of civilians by barrel bombs. #Geneva2 #Syria #AssadTerrorism
— Geneva 2 Media Unit (@SyriaG2) February 10, 2014
The report also includes a 1,000 page document by Amnesty International and other human rights agencies that include evidence of torture by the Assad regime. Daraa residents also told the opposition delegation that the regime is using starvation as a weapon.
French FM Slams World Powers Over “Meek” Homs Cease Fire Negotiations
France’s foreign minister Laurent Fabius told local radio on Monday that efforts by world powers to broker a cease fire around besieged Homs had not beeb strong enough.
Fabius called for stronger humanitarian action and said cities must be opened to medicines and food.
The French Foreign Minister also slammed inaction over starving civilians.
"It is absolutely scandalous that we are talking for so long while the population is being starved." French Foreign Minister Fabius #Syria
— Geneva 2 Media Unit (@SyriaG2) February 10, 2014
