Blast Hits Syrian Military Checkpoint Near Un Convoy, Injuring Soldiers

[News_Editor]

Blast hits Syrian military checkpoint near UN convoy, injuring soldiers < br /> 2012-05-11 06:53:47 GMT+7 (ICT) DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- A bomb blast targeted a military checkpoint in Syria on Wednesday when a United Nations (UN) convoy was nearby, injuring several Syrian soldiers but causing no UN casualties, officials said. The Syrian army was escorting a group of observers who form part of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), and were on their way from Damascus for a visit to the southern city of Dar'a, when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated detonated as they crossed a military checkpoint on the road approaching the town.None of the observers were hurt, although several Syrian soldiers from the convoy's rear escort vehicle were injured and taken for medical treatment. Their conditions were not immediately clear. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned Wednesday's attack and called on all parties to adhere to the cessation of violence and to cooperate with, support and protect the UNSMIS observers, his spokesman said in a statement."We have no evidence to believe that the explosion was intended to target the UNSMIS convoy; however, this incident demonstrates the difficult and challenging conditions under which our United Nations observers are operating," the spokesman said. "It also demonstrates the volatile and dangerous situation in which the Syrian people have been living for months."Furthermore, Ban questioned the commitment of the parties to the cessation of violence which may have a direct impact on the future of the Mission. The Secretary-General also noted that that UNSMIS and the efforts of the Joint Special Envoy Annan are possibly the only remaining chance to stabilize the country and avert a civil war.UNSMIS and Chief Military Observer Major-General Robert Mood, who had been leading the UN observer delegation, said the attack "was a graphic example of what the Syrian people are suffering on a daily basis and underlines the imperative for all forms of violence to stop."UNSMIS, which was only authorized by the Security Council last month, is tasked with monitoring the cessation of violence in Syria and supporting the full implementation of a six-point plan put forward by the Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the League of Arab States on the Syrian Crisis, Kofi Annan.UNSMIS currently has 113 personnel from 38 countries, including 70 Military Observers and 43 civilian staff members, on the ground and operates from five bases in different parts of Syria, besides Damascus.The crisis in Syria, which began in March 2011 as a protest movement similar to those across the Middle East and North Africa, has claimed over 9,000 lives, mostly civilians, and displaced tens of thousands.Annan's six-point plan calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue that takes into account the aspirations of the Syrian people, and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.

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