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| Tremseh in Syria |
Damascus: Syria denied on Sunday accusations of international mediator Kofi Annan, who said Damascus forces used heavy weapons and helicopters in clashes in the town of Tremseh this week, saying his comments about the fighting was "hasty." Makdissi Jihad, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Syria, said at least 37 soldiers and two civilians were killed in clashes during a campaign against security forces in the region city of Hama, where the rebels were launching attacks other areas, according to the Syrian government.
Estimates of the death toll activists vary between 100 and 220 fatalities, many of them entire families of the town of Tremseh, where UN observers say there was heavy fighting on Thursday.
"Government forces did not use planes or helicopters, or tanks or artillery. The heavier weapon used was an RPG (grenade launcher)," said Makdissi told reporters at a press conference in Damascus. "What happened was not a slaughter (...) what happened was a military operation. There was fighting between security forces, whose duty is to defend civilians and heavily armed forces who believe in a political solution", said.
Syria has been mired in a bloody revolt against President Bashar al-Assad that lasted 17 months. Some foreign leaders now say the uprising that began with street protests has become a civil war. So far, the video posted by activists, which they said was filmed in the small town, showed images of gore and charred bodies of young men who might have been fighting rebels.
Makdissi also responded to reports of the defection of General Tlas Manaf, a member of Assad's inner circle, saying that "he left without permission." It was the first official recognition of his disappearance, but did not address reports that Tlas had deserted. The defection of Tlas, academia partner and personal friend of Assad, was one of the first symptoms in the early months of the existence of cracks in the ruling elite who until then seemed nontransferable.
While the United States and its European and Arab allies are reluctant to rebel forces in Syria, which has been seen that are divided, they hope that eventually an erosion of support for Assad to allow the elite political transition without him.
Annan, who is leading efforts to implement a peace plan in Syria, said Friday that Damascus had not fulfilled its commitments to the peace plan that supports the UN. "I am shocked and dismayed by the news coming out of the village of Tremseh, near Hama, intense combat, involving victims, and the confirmation of the use of heavy weapons such as artillery, tanks and helicopters," he said in a statement.
"This is a violation of the Government's commitment to cease using heavy weapons in population centers and its commitment to the six-point plan," he said.
Makdissi Annan rejected accusations that were repeated in a letter to Foreign Minister Walid al-Mualem "The least we can say about this letter about what happened in Tremseh is not based on facts. In the way more diplomatic as possible, we say that this letter was too hasty, "said the spokesman.
Makdissi said the remarks on Saturday a group of UN observers confirmed Tremseh sent to the Syrian version of events. The group said it seemed that violence was intended against the rebels and opposition activists. However, the report also said that he used artillery and mortars, and the head of the observer mission said one day before observers in the province had reported the use of helicopters and indiscriminate fire.
Makdissi said the allegations of a fierce attack was unlikely, given the small size of the village.
Estimates of the death toll activists vary between 100 and 220 fatalities, many of them entire families of the town of Tremseh, where UN observers say there was heavy fighting on Thursday.
"Government forces did not use planes or helicopters, or tanks or artillery. The heavier weapon used was an RPG (grenade launcher)," said Makdissi told reporters at a press conference in Damascus. "What happened was not a slaughter (...) what happened was a military operation. There was fighting between security forces, whose duty is to defend civilians and heavily armed forces who believe in a political solution", said.
Syria has been mired in a bloody revolt against President Bashar al-Assad that lasted 17 months. Some foreign leaders now say the uprising that began with street protests has become a civil war. So far, the video posted by activists, which they said was filmed in the small town, showed images of gore and charred bodies of young men who might have been fighting rebels.
Makdissi also responded to reports of the defection of General Tlas Manaf, a member of Assad's inner circle, saying that "he left without permission." It was the first official recognition of his disappearance, but did not address reports that Tlas had deserted. The defection of Tlas, academia partner and personal friend of Assad, was one of the first symptoms in the early months of the existence of cracks in the ruling elite who until then seemed nontransferable.
While the United States and its European and Arab allies are reluctant to rebel forces in Syria, which has been seen that are divided, they hope that eventually an erosion of support for Assad to allow the elite political transition without him.
Annan, who is leading efforts to implement a peace plan in Syria, said Friday that Damascus had not fulfilled its commitments to the peace plan that supports the UN. "I am shocked and dismayed by the news coming out of the village of Tremseh, near Hama, intense combat, involving victims, and the confirmation of the use of heavy weapons such as artillery, tanks and helicopters," he said in a statement.
"This is a violation of the Government's commitment to cease using heavy weapons in population centers and its commitment to the six-point plan," he said.
Makdissi Annan rejected accusations that were repeated in a letter to Foreign Minister Walid al-Mualem "The least we can say about this letter about what happened in Tremseh is not based on facts. In the way more diplomatic as possible, we say that this letter was too hasty, "said the spokesman.
Makdissi said the remarks on Saturday a group of UN observers confirmed Tremseh sent to the Syrian version of events. The group said it seemed that violence was intended against the rebels and opposition activists. However, the report also said that he used artillery and mortars, and the head of the observer mission said one day before observers in the province had reported the use of helicopters and indiscriminate fire.
Makdissi said the allegations of a fierce attack was unlikely, given the small size of the village.
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