No sign of Syrian pullback as UN deadline passes
Syrian forces attack Homs, village of Marea, human rights activists say. Meanwhile, Turkey accuses Syria of violating border
Syrian activists reported military attacks on two towns Tuesday, even as the government claimed its military forces have begun pulling out of some towns in compliance with a UN-brokered truce deal.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says it saw no signs of large-scale troop pullback Tuesday and that most areas of Syria appeared calm. This is a sharp contrast to heavy attacks by Syrian forces on restive towns in recent days.
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However, activists reported shelling in the northern village of Marea and mortar fire in the city of Homs.
A collapse of the truce deal by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan could move Syria closer to an all-out civil war. A 13-month uprising has turned increasingly violent in response to a brutal regime crackdown.
Syrian activists reported military attacks on two towns Tuesday, even as the government claimed its military forces have begun pulling out of some towns in compliance with a UN-brokered truce deal.
"We have already withdrawn forces and army units from several Syrian provinces," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem claimed in Moscow after talks with his Russian counterpart.
He also seemed to be raising another new demand, saying that a cease-fire must start simultaneously with the deployment of an international observer mission.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Syria's government "could have been more active and decisive" in implementing the peace plan. He also called for a speedy deployment of international observers - including Russians - in the country.
Turkey: Syria violated border
Meanwhile, Turkey's prime minister accused Syria of infringing its border and says his country is considering what steps to take in response, including measures "we don't want to think about."
Recep Tayyip Erdogan was speaking to reporters during a visit to China on Tuesday, a day after Syrian forces opened fire across the border, killing two people in a refugee camp.
Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying Turkey would assess the situation and take steps accordingly.
Turkish authorities said Monday that Syrian forces fired across the border into a refugee camp in Turkey, wounding at least six people. But four witnesses in the camp told The Associated Press that two people in the camp also had been shot and killed.
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