This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/10/syria-lakhdar-brahimi-humanitarian-crisis
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| UN envoy heads to Syria as Iran demands role in peacemaking | UN envoy heads to Syria as Iran demands role in peacemaking |
| (8 days later) | |
| Lakhdar Brahimi, the new international envoy for Syria, will visit Damascus in the next few days to explore prospects for ending the country's bloody uprising as Iran said that it too wanted to play a role in regional efforts to resolve the crisis. | Lakhdar Brahimi, the new international envoy for Syria, will visit Damascus in the next few days to explore prospects for ending the country's bloody uprising as Iran said that it too wanted to play a role in regional efforts to resolve the crisis. |
| Brahimi, who replaced Kofi Annan last week, flew from UN headquarters in New York to Cairo to consult the head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Araby, after a record number of deaths in August. Navi Pillay, the UN's humanitarian chief, warned separately of the "devastating" effects on Syrian civilians. An estimated 23,000 people have been killed in the last 18 months. | Brahimi, who replaced Kofi Annan last week, flew from UN headquarters in New York to Cairo to consult the head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Araby, after a record number of deaths in August. Navi Pillay, the UN's humanitarian chief, warned separately of the "devastating" effects on Syrian civilians. An estimated 23,000 people have been killed in the last 18 months. |
| Syria's state news agency reported that the death toll from a car bomb in Aleppo on Sunday had risen to 30, including women and children – with 64 people wounded. | Syria's state news agency reported that the death toll from a car bomb in Aleppo on Sunday had risen to 30, including women and children – with 64 people wounded. |
| With the US, Britain and France at loggerheads with Russia and China, the UN security council remains in effect paralysed over Syria. It is also divided over the proposed creation of a new Middle Eastern "contact group" comprising Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey. | With the US, Britain and France at loggerheads with Russia and China, the UN security council remains in effect paralysed over Syria. It is also divided over the proposed creation of a new Middle Eastern "contact group" comprising Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey. |
| Saudi Arabia and Iran, respectively firm supporters of the Syrian opposition and the government, were both excluded from the last international peacemaking effort convened by Annan in Geneva in July. Annan visited Tehran in the face of western opposition but failed to persuade the Iranians to pressure President Bashar al-Assad, their long-standing ally. | Saudi Arabia and Iran, respectively firm supporters of the Syrian opposition and the government, were both excluded from the last international peacemaking effort convened by Annan in Geneva in July. Annan visited Tehran in the face of western opposition but failed to persuade the Iranians to pressure President Bashar al-Assad, their long-standing ally. |
| The denunciation of Assad by the new Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, has raised hopes for a more assertive role by the largest of Arab countries, which also has the moral authority of its own revolution. | The denunciation of Assad by the new Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, has raised hopes for a more assertive role by the largest of Arab countries, which also has the moral authority of its own revolution. |
| But the US and Britain remain implacably opposed to any formal involvement by Iran, citing its political, military and security assistance to Assad. "We are deeply sceptical about their ability to play a constructive role," said one UK official. | But the US and Britain remain implacably opposed to any formal involvement by Iran, citing its political, military and security assistance to Assad. "We are deeply sceptical about their ability to play a constructive role," said one UK official. |
| Brahimi, an Algerian veteran of the Arab League and the UN, told reporters in Cairo on Monday that he would be making his first visit to Damascus within days. "I realise it's a very difficult mission, but I think it is not my right to refuse to give whatever assistance I can to the Syrian people," he said. Brahimi has sought to keep expectations low, characterising his mission as "nearly impossible". | Brahimi, an Algerian veteran of the Arab League and the UN, told reporters in Cairo on Monday that he would be making his first visit to Damascus within days. "I realise it's a very difficult mission, but I think it is not my right to refuse to give whatever assistance I can to the Syrian people," he said. Brahimi has sought to keep expectations low, characterising his mission as "nearly impossible". |
| Iran's staunch backing for Assad certainly seems unlikely to change. Its deputy foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said that Tehran would continue its support for "the Syrian people and Bashar al-Assad's reforms within the context of the resistance front". | Iran's staunch backing for Assad certainly seems unlikely to change. Its deputy foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said that Tehran would continue its support for "the Syrian people and Bashar al-Assad's reforms within the context of the resistance front". |
| The chairman of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy commission, Aladin Borujerdi, was quoted as saying that Iran wanted to see the contact group expanded to give it "better balance", suggesting it also include neighbouring Iraq. | The chairman of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy commission, Aladin Borujerdi, was quoted as saying that Iran wanted to see the contact group expanded to give it "better balance", suggesting it also include neighbouring Iraq. |
| Pillay, meanwhile, expressed her concern about the consequences of the continuing crisis for Syrian civilians. "The use of heavy weapons by the government and the shelling of populated areas have resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties, mass displacement of civilians inside and outside the country and a devastating humanitarian crisis," she told the opening session of the annual UN human rights council meeting in Geneva. | Pillay, meanwhile, expressed her concern about the consequences of the continuing crisis for Syrian civilians. "The use of heavy weapons by the government and the shelling of populated areas have resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties, mass displacement of civilians inside and outside the country and a devastating humanitarian crisis," she told the opening session of the annual UN human rights council meeting in Geneva. |
| "I'm concerned that they may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. I'm equally concerned by violations by anti-government forces including murder, extrajudicial execution and torture, as well as the recently increased use of improvised explosive devices." | "I'm concerned that they may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. I'm equally concerned by violations by anti-government forces including murder, extrajudicial execution and torture, as well as the recently increased use of improvised explosive devices." |
| Pillay also predicted that Syrian suspects would "eventually" be referred to the international criminal court, in The Hague, despite current vetoes by China and Russia on the UN security council. | Pillay also predicted that Syrian suspects would "eventually" be referred to the international criminal court, in The Hague, despite current vetoes by China and Russia on the UN security council. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |