New York -
International envoy Kofi Annan urged the UN Security Council on Wednesday to
send a message to the Syrian government and the opposition that there will be
"consequences" if they don't comply with demands for an immediate
cease-fire, UN diplomat said.
Russia and China,
key allies of Syrian President Bashar Assad and veto-wielding council members,
have blocked repeated attempts by the United States and its European allies to
even threaten "consequences" - a diplomatic code word for sanctions.
The diplomat,
speaking spoke on condition of anonymity because Annan's videoconference
briefing from Geneva was at a closed session, said that the council should
insist on implementation of its resolutions including Annan's six-point peace
plan.
That plan calls
for an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of heavy weapons from populated
areas by the Syrian government to be followed by an opposition cessation of
hostilities.
The UN sent a
300-strong unarmed observer mission for 90 days to oversee the cessation of
violence and monitor implementation of the Annan plan. It was forced to
withdraw from key conflict areas because of the escalating fighting and the
council must decide what to do about extending its mandate which expires on
July 20.
Another UN
diplomat said UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the council the ceiling
of 300 observers should remain and the UNshould when they should be deployed. A
third diplomat said the peacekeeping department plans to temporarily withdraw
half the peacekeepers, placing them on 48-hour standby to return if conditions
change.
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