March 28th, 2012
06:02 AM ET

Al-Assad accepts peace plan, but reports of more violence emerge

A day after news broke that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accepted a plan to forge peace, fresh clashes broke out once again across Syria on Wednesday, opposition activists said.

Three members of the Syrian security forces were killed and four defecting soldiers were injured from intense clashes at an entrance to the western city of Rastan, which security forces have been trying to storm, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group.

And fierce fighting erupted between the Syrian security forces and a group of defectors in the southern Daraa province, the observatory said. The group said clashes began after an army soldier threatened residents in the town of Busr el-Harir to hand over the group of defectors or face a military operation.

Opposition activists have said Busr el-Harir has endured shortages of food and medicine since the Syrian army surrounded the town weeks ago.

The reports of violence come after al-Assad accepted a plan laid out by U.N.-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan to help end the bloodshed.

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soundoff (13 Responses)
  1. JerseyJeff

    He's obviously trying to play with international diplomacy. I think these cute tricks Assad is pulling are only freeing up more rope for him to hang himself in the end.

    March 28, 2012 at 6:59 am | Report abuse |
  2. Joey Isotta-Fraschini©™

    This Syrian Affair is a chess game, and the opposition has no apparently available PC move but BS.
    The government (al-Assad) accepted a peace plan, then the opposition did not want to live peacefully with al-Assad in power: the opposition wants to govern Syria.
    Cooperation from al-Assad will not give the rebels what they want.
    Our interest can be construed as "humanitarian concern," but this revolution is really a struggle for power and domination.
    A power struggle is a manifestation of the human survival instinct. I consider this instinct healthy, although many people say that they do not.
    In almost every struggle to overthrow an established government, human beings expire, usually violently.
    I'd enjoy being POTUS, riding Air Force One, and being driven around in that big, bad car that Obama uses. If I went to DC and started demonstrating for that good stuff by waving a shovel and firing a rifle, somebody would probably shoot me. I think I'll stay home and keep playing the piano for my supper.

    March 28, 2012 at 7:29 am | Report abuse |
  3. leeintulsa

    it would seem that they can't just talk to assad. he can't make the rebels ceasefire. if the govt stops firing and the rebels don't, the govt will fire back. and vice versa.

    even if assad agrees to something, there are more players involved.

    March 28, 2012 at 8:05 am | Report abuse |
  4. ron

    For the first step towards peace "boris and natasha" have to go. They've already moved beyond what will ever be acceptable in the eyes of their people and the world. Sadly though ,this in itself, will change nothing without a willingness to reform by all.

    March 28, 2012 at 8:06 am | Report abuse |
  5. banasy©

    @ron:
    Boris and Natasha?
    Well, Assad *is* Badenov.

    This has to stop.

    March 28, 2012 at 8:11 am | Report abuse |
  6. saywhat

    There is more to this issue than meets the eye. Its not just Assad & the opposition. And its now beyond Assad's sole sphere. There are more players with diverse motives who are there on the ground.
    Situation is murky. Powers vying for influence and clout in that region, people matter the least.

    March 28, 2012 at 11:02 am | Report abuse |
  7. ron

    @banasy, boris n natasha were reference to the evil villans on rocky and bullwinkle show many many years ago. Seemed appropriate since these two appear to be equally disliked. Am I showing my age?

    March 28, 2012 at 11:33 am | Report abuse |
    • leeintulsa

      @ron: actually, the recent movie exposed kids today to 'moose and squirrel'.. that doesn't look right..

      anyway, you only show your age with that if you ask if you're showing your age.. doh..

      i think i liked fractured fairytales and peabody and sherman best.

      now watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat..

      March 28, 2012 at 1:06 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Oh, I know it well, hence my Badenov reference...and I truly think that the cartoon was meant more for adults than for kids.....

      Lee, I liked "Fractured" better than the Wayback Machine....but it's all good! 😉

      March 28, 2012 at 1:15 pm | Report abuse |
  8. bobcat (in a hat) ©

    It is totally agreed by everyone that this must stop. Say what you like, but both sides at at fault here. The "revolution" factions want peace, but are unwilling to negotiate. The different "revolution" factions have met in Turkey and cannot agree to a common ground for the new government, if and when it comes. Once they get Al Assad out of the way, if that happens, it is going to be a free for all to see who is going to take the helm.
    Yes, the people are suffering. But truly at whose hands are they suffering ? When these factions start fighting amongst themselves, do you really believe the suffering is going to be alleviated ?

    March 28, 2012 at 1:35 pm | Report abuse |
  9. High Hopes

    Q: Assad, can you please explain the recent violence in light of the six step sanctions?

    A: I am, simply, enforcing the mandatory enlistment into my army for all men 19 to 45.

    O-O

    Looks more like China, everyday!

    March 28, 2012 at 2:26 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Bill

    This guy is buying time and appeasing some others lest he be forever condemned as a bloody tyrant. This isn't going to end gently or peacefully for anyone! This guy has a tyrant's mentality and the people who are rebels want to be one too, basically. Remember where we are!! Maybe a bit of inconvenience and a shortage of some food but no shortage of Korans and blustering/whining for the gullible free world to jump in and spend some money and lose men in another futile effort. Just another page in the same old nasty book there...rely on it...thousands of years of history to substantiate their endless violence and internal tribal and religious bickering.

    March 28, 2012 at 7:48 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Bullwinkle know-it-all

    I believe I can see Boris and Natasha from my throne

    March 28, 2012 at 8:42 pm | Report abuse |
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