SNC member says UNSC’s statement gives Assad opportunity to kill more citizens

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced that 16 persons were killed including 10 civilians in Idlib, and dozens were injured during clashes that rocked Syria on Thursday.    

In this regard, Syrian military dissidents announced Thursday the establishment of a military council in Damascus and rif Damascus to organize the movements of dissidents in this region.

Member of the executive body of the Syrian National Council Samir Nashar said on Thursday that the presidential statement issued by the U.N. Security Council provides Syrian President Bashar Assad with an additional opportunity to continue killing citizens.         

It was earlier reported that Syrian tanks shelled a large neighborhood in the city of Hama following clashes between Free Syrian Army rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, opposition sources said.           

The shelling destroyed houses and left an unknown number of casualties in the Arbaeen neighborhood in the northeast of the city, which has been at the forefront of the year-long popular revolt against Assad, they said.            
        
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources announced that the European Union will impose a series of new sanctions on the Syrian government, and will target the wife of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Asmaa Assad.      

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said that the Security Council has sent an unmistakable message to Syria that all violence must stop as the death toll from a year of violence passed 8,000.              

Speaking to reporters in Malaysia, Ban said there must be a cease-fire so that humanitarian aid can be dispatched.               

The Syrian uprising, which began one year ago, is transforming into an armed insurgency that many fear is pushing the country toward civil war.           

AP/LBCI