Syria rebels say no longer committed to Annan plan

Kurdi also said rebels wanted a U.N. observing mission in the country to be turned to a "peace enforcing mission" or the international community should take "bold" decisions and impose a no-fly zone and a buffer zone to help bring Assad down.

For his part U.N.’s Bank-Moon said that Annan’s plan remains central to resolving Syrian crisis adding his refusal to discuss military options for Syria. He urged Syria to stop violence now “in the name of humanity”.

For his part, European Union Chief, Herman Van Rompuy said after holding talks with Putin that Russia and the EU agree that the Annan plan is the best way to avoid a civil war in Syria.

On the other hand,  Catherine Ashton said in a statement, that she had spoken with Annan and agreed that the crisis has reached "a critical point."

This as diplomats announced that Annan was exerting pressure on international forces to strengthen its support for his peace plan.

In contrast,  permanent Syrian representative to the Arab League Youssef al-Ahmad said in remarks published in Teshreen Newspaper that the Arab League has not been objective so far and that its decisions will no longer be of concern, therefore, announcing Syria's refusal of any representation of the Arab League in the Annan plan.

The toll of these clashes is so far 46 deaths, 19 of which are civilians, 8 dissidents and 19 soldiers according to the Syrian Observatory for Human rights.             

For his part UN-Arab League Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan called for mobilizing frozen efforts to end the violence in the country. This as the envoy continues to exert pressure on the UN to support the implementation of his plan or devise a new one, according to diplomatic sources.               

On another front, Syrian Daily Al-Wattan accused Saudi Arabia of seeking to instigate strife in Lebanon. This after Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal made accusations towards Damascus on Sunday saying that the latter is seeking to turn the conflict into a sectarian strife.               

“If Saud Al-Faisal wants to prove himself and Saudi Arabia innocent of the clashes currently occurring in North Lebanon  and of the plans he and his partners are devising to isolate the are by ousting the LAF forces and turning [Tripoli] into a launch pad against Syria, then he must think again”, the Daily added.

LBCI/REUTERS