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Representatives from more
than 100 countries are holding talks in Paris in a fresh attempt to
decide what should be done to end the violence in Syria.
However, Russia and China - two of President Bashar
al-Assad's most important allies - are not attending the Friends of
Syria group meeting. The meeting comes just days after world powers agreed a roadmap for a political transition in Syria. On Thursday it emerged a senior member of Syria's regime had gone to Turkey. The pro-government website Syriasteps said Brig Gen Manaf Tlas had made an "escape" but that this was "insignificant". Sources confirmed his departure to the BBC. But it is not clear whether he has defected. It would be the highest-level defection of a supporter of President Assad since the rebellion against him started 16 months ago. Earlier rumours about his possible defection in March proved to be false. So his intentions may only become clear if and when he appears in public to outline his plans. Brig Gen Tlas, of the Republican Guard, is the son of a former Syrian defence minister. As a young man he attended military training with Mr Assad. Push for sanctions
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Analysis
But the violence has escalated. And in the absence of a ceasefire, the future of the UN observer mission is uncertain. Syria's long-standing ally, Russia, sees no point in today's meeting in Paris, and is not attending. China is supporting the Russian position. There's talk of a possible new UN Security Council resolution to step up the pressure on President Assad's government. But even if military intervention is specifically ruled out, drafting a resolution will still be a difficult negotiation.
The Paris meeting follows similar events in Tunis and Istanbul which demanded tougher action against the Assad regime.
The US and its Western allies are expected to encourage Gulf states to do more to push for global sanctions.But Russia and China, which both hold vetoes in the United Nations Security Council, are not at the meeting. Opening the meeting, French President Francois Hollande said it was a "human and political necessity" to stop the conflict. UN diplomats are working on a document calling for restrictions on commercial activity if Mr Assad fails to abide by UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's ceasefire plan and roadmap for a political transition. The roadmap - announced last weekend by Annan after a meeting of world powers in Geneva - includes an interim government to enable the Syrian people to live ''independently and democratically''. The Western powers believe that Mr Assad should play no part in Syria's future, but the roadmap allows Mr Assad an effective veto over any interim candidate he opposes. Some 15,800 people have died in more than a year of violence in Syria, activists say. |
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