New raids strike areas surrounding Maaret al Naaman

23^min

Opposition fighters shot down a chopper near Maaret al-Naaman in northwestern Syria on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Earlier today, Syrian warplanes launched new raids on areas surrounding the city of Maaret al-Naaman, an area which has been witnessing the fiercest of clashes between opposition fighters and pro-regime troops, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In Homs, and after days of escalation, the Syrian army was able to storm the village of Jose. According to the observatory the army seems to be determined to take control over the countryside of Al-Qasir region.

Syria hoped that talks held by U.N. envoy Akhdar Ibrahimi will pave the way for a constructive initiative that would end the civil war.

SANA quoted the spokesperson for the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Jihad Makdissi as saying that Syria is waiting for Ibrahimi to come to Syria.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the EU’s insistence on imposing economic sanctions on Damascus contradicts with EU countries’ allegations to ensure the interest of the Syrian people.

International Positions

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius accused the Syrian regime on Wednesday of using cluster bombs after Damascus denied similar accusations made by Non-Governmental Organizations.

In a meeting held in Paris with community representatives from rebel-controlled areas in Syria, Fabius said that the Syrian regime has used MiG fighters, TNT barrels and cluster bombs.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Arabi asked the Syrian Government and armed opposition parties to abide by a truce during the Eid al-Adha which begins on the 26th of October 2012.

Turkish Foreign Minister said that Iran has indicated its support for ceasefire in Syria during the Eid al-Adha holiday.

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that only the U.N. Security Council could restrict Russian weapons sales abroad, a remark that appeared aimed at defending the Kremlin against criticism of its arms supplies to the Syrian government.

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New raids strike areas surrounding Maaret al-Naaman

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