Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: 30 Die as Protests Continue
Monday, May 14, 2012 at 8:192159 GMT: Syria. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has released an internal report that suggests the US government does not believe the Syrian government is abiding by the UN brokered ceasefire. In fact, USAID reports that the Syrian military even killed aid workers. Foreign Policy reports:
"U.N.-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan expressed concerns regarding reports of SARG reprisal attacks in areas where Syrian civilians met with U.N. observers, including in Hamah and Damascus governorates," the report stated. "The observers report that SARG forces have not withdrawn heavy weapons from urban centers -- a condition of the U.N. and Arab League supported ceasefire and peace plan that went into effect on April 12."
2100 GMT: Syria. Earlier we received reports, and the impressive video below reportedly taken in Douma, of security forces flocking into the Damascus suburbs. Syrian security was also spotted moving in Hama and several other areas. Our reaction? The new FSA offensive may have hit a nerve, as the regime had pulled some of those forces out of these areas in order to appear as though they were complying with the UN ceasefire.