DAMASCUS, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Syria is ready to discuss a cease-fire during the Muslim Eid al-Adha, according to local media.
The cease-fire proposal was put forward by the UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, who has been shuttling between regional countries to hammer out a plan for pacifying the situation in Syria.
The armed rebels have not been interested in such cease-fire deals, showing resolve to continue their armed confrontation with the government troops.
Brahimi is set to visit Syria during the weekend for discussion with Syrian officials about his latest regional tour, sources said.
ANKARA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The fact that Turkey ordered a second civilian aircraft en route to Syria to land for inspection within a week signaled that Turkey had meant business when it came to preventing its territory from being used as a transit to arm embattled Syrian regime in its fight against the opposition in this Arab country.
Bilal Cetin, veteran Turkish analyst, said the recent turns of events signified that Turkey would start imposing blockade in the land, sea and air space against Syria. "I think we have passed the last exit for Syria. I do not expect any softening of Turkish stand over Syria as long as the (Bashar al-Assad) regime stays in power in Damascus," he said. Full story
DAMASCUS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) introduced Monday a new set of economic sanctions against Syria, which, defiant in front of economic woes, has just announced to allocate billions of pounds as damages for the losses of private properties.
The EU has agreed to impose assets freeze and travel bans on additional 28 Syrian individuals and two firms at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, bringing the number of individuals blacklisted by EU countries to 181 and the number of companies to 54. The step is seen as another attempt to squeeze the Syrian government and hasten its collapse. Full story
DAMASCUS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Monday denied using cluster bombs in its fights against the armed opposition fighters, who seem to be more resourceful as media reports said they are now in possession of heat-seeking missiles.
The general command of the Syrian army said some misleading media outlets have recently spread "false reports" that the Syrian army is using cluster bombs in its fights against the "armed terrorist groups," a term used by the government to brand the rebels. Full story
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