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October 17, 2012

Syria Attacks Rebel Areas, Rejects Call for Ceasefire 
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The Syrian government has rejected a call by U.N.-Arab League envoy
Lakhdar Brahimi for a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha
this month, saying there is no unified rebel leadership to sign such an
agreement. Rebel groups, meanwhile, say they have agreed to unify and
establish joint leadership in their struggle to oust Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad. A unity conference has reportedly been set for early
November. On Tuesday, the Syrian military bombarded rebel areas in the
north of the country with air strikes and artillery, killing at least 90
people, according to activists. Meanwhile, officials from the World Food
Program said some 1.4 million people in Syria required assistance last
month, but the violence prevented workers from reaching some of those in
need.

 

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