Ban Ki Moon Live Blog

2 weeks 8 hours ago - Syria

Syria has said that Damascus suicide attacks was the work of what it called "terrorists" armed and funded by foreign organisations and media.

The foreign ministry made the accusation in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hours after the deadliest bombing attacks.

"These crimes show that Syria is targeted by a terrorist attack launched by organisations armed and funded by parties who proclaim their backing to terrorist crimes," state-run SANA news agency quoted the message as saying.

It also accused unnamed "media that incite violence of being behind these terrorist crimes".

These media ask rebels "to commit crimes by offering them in exchange media coverage" of their fight against the regime", the message said.

The ministry also said that "300 soldiers and members of the security forces have been killed by armed terrorist groups since April 12," when a putative ceasefire technically went into effect.

Tags Ban Ki Moon, Bashar al Assad, Damascus blasts

2 weeks 9 hours ago - Syria

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, has condemned the Damascus attacks.

A statement issued by secretary general’s office said:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s attacks in Damascus, which killed more than 50 persons and injured scores of others. He expresses his sympathy to the victims and their families. The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent call on all sides fully to comply with their obligations to cease armed violence in all its forms, and to protect civilians, as well as to distance themselves from indiscriminate bombings and other terrorist acts. All sides must abide by Security Council resolution 2043 and the six point plan, which commit the parties to a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The Secretary-General underscores once more the need for immediate and full cooperation with UN efforts aimed at ending all violence and human rights violations, securing humanitarian access and facilitating a Syrian-led political transition leading to a democratic and plural political system in Syria. The United Nations is committed to continue doing all it can to achieve these goals.

Tags Ban Ki Moon, Damascus blasts, UN

2 weeks 21 hours ago - Syria

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has condemned a bomb attack in Syria that struck close to UN observers, saying it could impact the mission's future, the Associated Press news agency reports. Ban called the attack "unacceptable".

"It is a testament to the difficulty and the danger of the task entrusted to our UN observers, and it is a reminder of the risks of violence escalating even further," he told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

Ban said innocent civilians are still dying, government troops and heavy armor are still in city streets and there are "growing numbers of arrests and allegations of brutal torture, an alarming upsurge in the use of IEDs, and other explosive devices throughout the country".

About 70 UN observers are in Syria and that number is expected to reach 300 by the end of the month. No UN personnel were harmed in the attack that injured 10 Syrian soldiers.

Tags Ban Ki Moon, UN General Assembly, UN observers

3 weeks 2 days ago - Syria

A dawn bombardment by Syrian government forces have killed 10 civilians, a rights watchdog said, hours after UN chief Ban Ki-moon issued a new call for all sides to respect a troubled ceasefire.

Condemning bombings that killed mostly security force personnel, Ban said it was vital that government and opposition alike co-operate fully with the UN mission charged with overseeing a tenuous ceasefire that went into force on April 12.

Nine members of a single family were among the 10 dead in Idlib province in the northwest, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A mortar round slammed into their home in Mashmashan village near the town of Jisr al-Shughur, the watchdog said, adding that four women and two children were among the family members killed.

Tags Ban Ki Moon, Bashar al Assad, Idlib province

3 weeks 3 days ago - New York

UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned on Monday "terrorist bomb attacks" in the Syrian cities of Damascus and Idlib, and noted that while there had been security improvements in areas monitored by UN observers, he was "gravely concerned" by the continued violence.

"The Secretary-General condemns the terrorist bomb attacks in the cities of Idlib and Damascus which took place today and on 27 April 2012, killing and injuring scores of people," Ban's press office said in a statement

"While noting improvements in areas where UN monitors are deployed, the Secretary-General remains gravely concerned by reports of continued violence, killing and abuses in Syria in recent days," it said.

Tags Ban Ki Moon, damascus, idlib, syria

3 weeks 6 days ago - Syria

Here's a quick recap of recent developments:

• There are reports of fighting overnight in the town of Douma, despite a visit by the UN ceasefire monitors. The government and opposition groups have blamed each other for the outbreak of violence.

• The United Nations secretary-general says Syria is not complying with the UN-backed peace plan that it agreed to earlier this month.

• Ban Ki-moon says UN observers are reporting the continued presence of Syrian troops and heavy weapons in cities.

• Meanwhile, in an emergency meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo, the Arab League has called on the UN Security Council to protect Syrian civilians and for more monitors to be sent to the country as soon as possible.

• The UN recently authorised sending up to 300 observers. More UN observers have been arriving in the country, with two of them stationed in the southern province of Deraa. At the moment, there are only 15 monitors inside Syria.

• Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, has condemned the Syrian government's continued use of heavy weapons on its people.

"The United States' patience is exhausted, and we are going to be watching very carefully to determine if this observer mission is having the impact that we all hoped it would, even if our expectations were low. And if it isn't, we will be very ready within the 90 day period to come back to this Council and discuss what pressures ought to be applied."

For more detail and context, read our latest news story: Syria 'in contravention' of peace plan

The image below, taken from an unverified video uploaded on YouTube, allegedly shows an explosion at a local cemetery in Douma on Friday:

Tags Ban Ki Moon, Susan Rice, Syrian government, UN peace plan, UN Security Council

4 weeks 5 hours ago - Syria

UN leader Ban Ki-moon has said that ceasefire monitors had reported Syria is 'in contravention' of an agreed
peace plan by keeping troops and heavy weapons in cities.

Ban also said he was "gravely alarmed" by reports of shelling of populated areas in Syria, in a statement released by his office.

Tags Ban Ki Moon, Bashar al Assad, Syria protests, UN peace plan

4 weeks 5 days ago - Syria

Statement by the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the adoption of the Security Council resolution on Syria (UNSMIS):

The Secretary-General strongly welcomes the unanimous decision of the Security Council to authorize a United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) for an initial period of 90 days. Deployments will proceed expeditiously, subject to his assessment of developments on the ground, including the consolidation of the cessation of violence.
The Secretary-General calls upon the Government of Syria and other parties swiftly to create the conditions necessary for the deployment of the mission. He stresses the need for the Government of Syria to end all violence and human rights violations, and in particular to stop the use of heavy weapons and to withdraw such weapons and armed units from population centres.
The Secretary-General expects the Government of Syria to ensure the effective operation of UNSMIS, including full, unimpeded, and immediate freedom of movement and access, unobstructed communications and the safety of the mission. The Secretary-General looks forward to an expeditious Agreement between the Government of Syria and the UN on appropriate air transportation assets as underlined by the Council.
The Secretary-General calls for full cooperation by all to allow UNSMIS to implement its mandate as given: to monitor a cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties and to monitor and support the full implementation of the Joint Special Envoy’s six-point proposal. The Secretary-General stresses that this is critical to create the conditions for a political solution that will ensure the equal and fundamental rights and freedoms of all Syrians.
The challenges on the ground are serious. Too many lives have been lost. The gross violations of the fundamental rights of the Syrian people must stop at once. The efforts of Joint Special Envoy have been instrumental in forging a way forward and will continue to be. The Secretary-General hopes that the establishment of UNSMIS, with the united and determined support of the Security Council, will help stop the killing and suffering in Syria, and contribute to move the country towards pluralism and democracy.
New York, 21 April 2012

Tags Ban Ki Moon

5 weeks 22 hours ago - United Nations

Here's a quick summary of recent developments:

• Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, says 300 unarmed observers should be sent to Syria for three months - to monitor the fragile ceasefire between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and opposition fighters.

• In his report, which has been released to the UN Security Council, Ban also stated that it was "critical" for Assad to carry out his commitments.

• The number is a fraction of the peacekeeping forces sent to other areas of conflict.

• Ban said there was still a chance for progress in Syria, despite the incomplete ceasefire.

• He had originally recommended 250 unarmed military observers.

• Helicopters and planes could be supplied by European countries.

• Ban told the Security Council that Syria has yet to send a "clear signal" about its commitment to peace.

For more detail and context, read our news story - UN chief says Syria has broken ceasefire

• Meanwhile, the US secretary of state says the conflict in Syria is now taking place on NATO's borders.

• Hillary Clinton's comments come after shelling last week reached Turkey and Lebanon.

• Syria's foreign minister maintains his country is observing the ceasefire.

• But, speaking in Brussels, Clinton says more pressure should be put on Assad:

"We are at a crucial turning point, either we succeed in pushing forward with Kofi Annan's plan in accordance with the Security Council direction, with the help of monitors, steadily broadening and deepening a zone of non-conflict and peace, or we see Assad squandering his last chance before additional measures have to be considered. Now we will continue to increase the pressure on Assad."

For more of our special coverage on Syria click here.

(An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube on April 18, allegedly shows Moroccan UN observer, Colonel Ahmed Himmiche, surrounded by anti-government protesters during a tour by UN monitors in the Damascus suburb of Irbin on the same day - AFP/HO/YOUTUBE)

Tags Ban Ki Moon, President Bashar al Assad, syria, UN Security Council, Unarmed observers

5 weeks 4 days ago - Brussels

UN chief Ban Ki-moon voiced concern over the Syrian regime's shelling of the central city of Homs and urged the government to do everything to maintain a fragile ceasefire.

"I am very much concerned about what has happened since yesterday and today," Ban said on Sunday after talks with Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo in Brussels.

"(The) Syrian government has been shelling the city of Homs and elsewhere we have seen already some casualties, populations killed," he said as an advance team of UN truce observers were due to arrive in Damascus on Sunday.

"I urge again in the strongest possible terms that this cessation of violence must be kept," the UN secretary general said.

Syrian forces reportedly killed five civilians in shelling of rebel areas and clashes with gunmen on Sunday, testing the shaky UN-backed ceasefire ahead of the arrival of observers.

"While we welcome this cessation of violence at this time I warn that the whole world is watching with sceptical eyes whether this will be able to be sustainable," Ban said

"It is important, absolutely important, that the Syrian government should take all the measures to keep this cessation of violence," he added.

Ban said he would present on Thursday his proposal to enlarge the UN monitoring mission, which will have 30 unarmed military observers at first, to 250 people.

"I hope the Security Council will act on that as soon as possible so that we will swiftly deploy this monitoring team," he said.

[Source: AFP]

Tags Ban Ki Moon, ceasefire, syria

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