Syrian attack stutters, more monitors ready
AMMAN — A Syrian military assault on a dissident-held town has stalled because of snowstorms and armed resistance, an opposition leader said yesterday, and the Arab League prepared to send more monitors to Syria.
Tanks and troops attacked Zabadani, a town of 40,000 near the Lebanese border on Friday, but made little progress against army deserters and insurgents defending it, Kamal al Labwani said, citing residents reached briefly by telephone.
It was the biggest military assault against opponents of President Bashar al Assad since Arab observers began work on December 26 to check Syria’s compliance with an Arab peace plan.
Security forces trying to crush anti-assad protests killed 12 civilians, including a 6-yearold girl, on Friday, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The state news agency Sana said armed “terrorists” had killed six soldiers or policemen.
“This is the last week in the month agreed between Syria and the Arab League and will witness a wide deployment of the monitors,” said a source at the Cairo-based League, adding that 40 monitors were ready to join the team of about 165 whenever its leader, Sudanese General Mohammed al Dabi, requested them.
Al Dabi is due to report to the Arab League on Thursday and Arab foreign ministers will then decide whether to continue the mission, or possibly refer Syria to the UN Security Council. — Reuters