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Free Syrian Army fighters gather near a building hit by a Syrian Army tank in Idlib, north Syria, on Sunday Rodrigo Abd/AP/Press Association Images
Syria
China, Saudi Arabia welcome calls for Syrian ceasefire
China called for an immediate ceasefire, while the Saudi Foreign Minister welcomed international efforts to broker one – but said they have “failed to stop the massacre”.
CHINA AND SAUDI Arabia have both welcomed calls for a ceasefire in Syria.
Yesterday, Syrian ally China offered a proposal to end the violence. It called for an immediate ceasefire and talks by all parties, but remained firm in its opposition to foreign intervention.
Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said the kingdom welcomed international efforts to broker a ceasefire in Syria but added that they have “failed to stop the massacres.”
He said that the regime “is insisting on imposing itself by force on the Syrian people”.
The Washington Post reports that anonymous US officials say that “lethal” aid from Iran to Syria is increasing, and includes arms. It adds that seven Iranians are being held by the Free Syrian Army, which captured them in Homs in December.
Baba Amr is currently being targeted, with Government forces blocking humanitarian access to the city, which is the worst-hit area at the moment.
On Sunday Red Cross teams handed out food, blankets and medical kits in central Homs province. Electricity, water and communications have been cut off, and food is running low, activists told the Associated Press.
The humanitarian group was trying to help families who fled Baba Amr after a monthlong siege and took shelter in nearby villages.
- Additional reporting AP
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