Syria says military operations will cease on Thursday morning

2012-04-12 15:45:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Wednesday informed the United Nations (UN) that it will cease all military fighting throughout the country on early Thursday morning.

According to a letter sent by Muallem to UN-Arab League Special Envoy Kofi Annan, the Syrian government has decided to cease all military fighting throughout Syrian territory as of 6 a.m. local time on Thursday. The letter added that Syria reserves the right to 'respond proportionately' to any attacks.

There were no immediate reports of violence on early Thursday morning, but White House Press Secretary Jay Carney was skeptical about the announcement after previous promises by the Syrian government were not kept. "What is important to remember is that we judge the Assad regime by its actions and not by their promises, because their promises have proven so frequently in the past to be empty," he said.

Last week, the Syrian government told Annan that it would complete the withdrawal of troops by Tuesday this week, prompting the Envoy to state that, once that happens, all parties should move immediately to cease all forms of violence, so that a complete cessation is in place by Thursday.

A UN team recently visited Syria to start technical preparations for the potential deployment of observers to monitor a cessation of armed violence and the full implementation of Annan's six-point plan to end violence. The six-point plan has been endorsed by most countries, including the United States and Russia.

Since the start of the uprising in March 2011, at least 3,800 people have died as a result of violence, according to government figures, but opposition activists claim the actual number has already surpassed 9,000. Tens of thousands of people have also displaced since the protests began.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-04-12

Well so far the ceasefire seems to be holding, much to the disappointment of Hilary Clinton and Little William Hague, who have spent their time since the ceasefire was announced making statements denigrating it, in a desperate attempt to throw a spanner in the works. This is the last thing they wanted. All that money and effort spent over the past few years financing, arming and training the rebels. The support and financial backing to the so called opposition leaders, who have all resided in the West for decades. This wasn't supposed to happen. But it was never a spontaneous popular uprising, it is an armed insurgency by Islamic militants who are acting as useful idiots for The West in their attempt to replace The Assad regime and install a friendly puppet government more to their liking. The unfortunate fact that these rebels have used tactics like suicide bombings, arbitary executions and general terrorist activities clearly doesn't bother Clinton, Hague, and their masters in the slightest. 'The ends justify the means' is how they see it. What disgusting hypocrites they are.