Palestinian factions look for the Government of national unity, elections - Bloomberg Plan

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Palestiniens du Fatah délégation chef Azzam al-Ahmad, droite, serre la main avec le leader adjoint du Hamas Musa Abu Marzouk après une conférence de presse conjointe au Caire. Photographe : Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

Les groupes rivaux palestiniens du Hamas et du Fatah ont conclu une entente préliminaire pour mettre fin à leur fracture presque quatre ans et forme un gouvernement d'unité nationale.

L'accord appelle également pour les élections législatives et présidentielles en un an, Fatah officiel Azzam al-Ahmad, a déclaré dans une interview hier après une conférence de presse conjointe avec les négociateurs du Hamas.

L'égypte, qui a agi comme médiateur pendant les négociations secrètes, sera l'h?te d'une réunion des factions palestiniennes, la semaine prochaine pour une cérémonie de signature formelle, dit al-Ahmad.

? Aujourd'hui, nous ouvrons une nouvelle page de l'unité et de la Convention, de resserrer les rangs et qui luttent ensemble, ? le Hamas officiel Musa Abu Marzouk dit. La formation d'un gouvernement d'unité de technocrates débutera la semaine prochaine après la signature de l'accord, dit-il.

Isra?l a déclaré le deal tuerait toute chance pour les pourparlers de paix et de la U.S. dit que le Hamas ne peut pas jouer un ? r?le constructif ? tant que c'est pas disposé à accepter le droit d'Isra?l à exister. Le Hamas--considérée comme une organisation terroriste par les états-Unis, l'Union européenne et Isra?l--rejette les négociations de paix et refuse de reconna?tre l'état juif.

Le mouvement palestinien s'ensuit protestations en mars dans lequel des milliers de Palestiniens, inspirés par les soulèvements populaires en égypte, la Tunisie et la Libye, se rallient à l'appui de la réconciliation entre le Hamas, qui contr?le la bande de Gaza, et le Fatah autorité palestinienne, dont les règles de la Cisjordanie.

Gazaouis célébré hier dans les rues, Mkhaimar Abusada, politologue à l'Université Al-Azhar de Gaza, a déclaré dans une interview de téléphone.

? C'est une très importante pour le peuple palestinien ?, a déclaré Abusada.

L'annonce vient également comme responsables de l'autorité palestinienne faire pression sur les pays occidentaux à reconna?tre un état palestinien en septembre.

? Si nous pensons de l'autorité palestinienne étant sérieusement à la déclaration de l'état en septembre, il aurait été absurde avec deux autorités, ? dit Jonathan Spyer, politologue à l'Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, à l'extérieur de Tel-Aviv. ? Nous allons voir jusqu'à quel point ils obtiennent ?.

Le premier ministre israélien Benjamin Netanyahu, a déclaré qu'un accord l'unité mettrait fin à toute chance de pourparlers de paix, au point mort depuis septembre, entre Isra?l et l'autorité palestinienne.

? L'autorité palestinienne doit choisir entre la paix avec Isra?l et de la paix avec le Hamas, ? Netanyahu dit dans les commentaires envoyés par courrier électronique et de diffusion. ? L'idée même de rapprochements montre la faiblesse de l'autorité palestinienne ?.

états-Unis craintives

L'administration Obama sonne une note se méfie suite à l'annonce. "Comme nous l'avons dit, les états-Unis appuient la réconciliation palestinienne à des conditions qui favorisent la cause de la paix,", a déclaré le porte-parole du Conseil National de sécurité Tommy Vietor.

? Le Hamas, cependant, est une organisation terroriste qui cible des civils, ? il dit dans une déclaration de courriel. ? à jouer un r?le constructif dans la réalisation de la paix, tout gouvernement palestinien doit accepter les principes du Quartet et renoncer à la violence, se conformer aux accords passés et reconna?tre le droit d'Isra?l à exister. ?

Les responsables du Fatah et le Hamas a déclaré que les deux parties seraient former un Comité pour aborder la question de la sécurité sous un gouvernement d'unité.

La séparation entre la faction de Fatah du président de l'autorité palestinienne Mahmoud Abbas et le mouvement du Hamas islamique Date de 2007, lorsque le Hamas a évincé forces Abbas de la bande de Gaza, un an après avoir remporté les élections législatives. Qui a pris fin d'un gouvernement de coalition avec le Fatah et Abbas à gauche dans le contr?le de la Cisjordanie.

Le 16 mars, Abbas a déclaré qu'il souhaitait visiter Gaza dans une soumission de guérir le fossé qui a forcé les retards répétés dans les plans de tenir des élections.

L'armée israélienne et l'égypte deux scellées hors de ses frontières avec Gaza après que le Hamas a repris, coupant la plupart du trafic civil et restreindre les échanges avec le territoire. Isra?l a maintenu un blocus terrestres et maritimes autour de Gaza depuis lors.

Dirigeants de l'autorité palestinienne ont dit qu'ils chercheront des Nations Unies de reconnaissance d'un état en septembre si les négociations avec Isra?l ne sont pas repries.

Les pourparlers de paix entre Isra?l et l'autorité palestinienne est tombée en panne plusieurs semaines après que qu'ils ont commencé en septembre 2010, lorsque Netanyahu a refusé de prolonger une construction de 10 mois partielle geler en Cisjordanie et Abbas dit qu'il ne voulaient pas négocier jusqu'à ce que tous les construction a été interrompue.

Pour contacter les reporters sur cette histoire : Mariam Fam au Caire à mfam1@bloomberg.net ; Gwen Ackerman à Jérusalem au gackerman@bloomberg.net

Pour contacter l'éditeur responsable de cette histoire : Andrew J. Barden à barden@bloomberg.net

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9 UStrainers shot by driver Afghan Air Force - USA Today

The Afghan driver who killed nine U.S. trainers in Kabul on Wednesday came from the security force brought more closely than any other force supporters insurgents. By Musadeq Sadeq, AP

Patrol of Afghan soldiers outside a gateway into Kabul airport after an officer opened fire on foreign troops.

By Musadeq Sadeq, AP

Patrol of Afghan soldiers outside a gateway into Kabul airport after an officer opened fire on foreign troops.

More than nine to ten members of the Afghan air force had undergone criminal screening, drug and medical problems in the program to eliminate unfit recruits or Taliban infiltrators.Screening, led by Afghans with the help of NATO, aims to improve the quality of Afghan troops which will take on increasing responsibility for security in July beginning, when American troops are planned to begin to withdraw from the country.There are 100,000 American soldiers in Afghanistan and 284,000 Afghan troops and police. President Obama asked Congress for $ 12.8 billion to train and equip the Afghan security forces this upcoming fiscal year.The members of the Afghan security forces killed 39 troops of the coalition led by the United States since the beginning of 2009. Sixteen of the deaths occurred in the first four months of this year. Fifteen coalition soldiers were killed by Afghan soldiers and police in the whole of 2010, according to NATO.Infiltration is part of an effort by the Taliban to return to the losses suffered by the efforts conducted by the United States to erase parts of the South of the Afghanistan, said Seth Jones, an expert on the Afghanistan at the RAND Corp..a Washington think tank. The Taliban have intensified killings of Afghan Government officials and used other forms of intimidation, Jones said. He said infiltration is a common tactic of Afghan fighters known as the Mujahedeen who fought the Soviet occupiers in the 1980s. They planted agents in Afghan forces allied with the Soviets. "It's just pulling an old game manual muj," said Jones .l ' increase in such attacks shows that the Taliban adapts its tactics, said Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat and member of the Commission of the armed forces. " The Defence Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said the shooter Ahmad Gul, 48, an officer who has served as a pilot in the Afghan army for 20 years. Gul opened fire at a meeting, in an operations room in the Afghan air corps at Kabul International Airport following a dispute with foreigners said Azimi. It was unknown what was the argument.Afghan officials have completed biometric screening on 4,036 4,241 Afghan airmen, according to figures of the NATO Training Mission, making the Afghan air force far ahead of other services in conducting the audits of history on its staff.Army lieutenant-general William Caldwell, said last week that he anticipated that the Taliban would attempt more attacks by infiltration of Afghan security forces, or by troops persuading in services of Afghan security to ignite their comrades in the coalition led by the United States. A review of the recent attacks by Afghan troops and police on the coalition forces showed that half were motivated by disagreements or combat stress, Caldwell told USA today.For more information on reprints & permissions, see our FAQ. To report corrections and clarifications, contact standards editor Brent Jones. Review of the publication in the journal, please send your comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include the name, telephone number, city and State for the purposes of verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.We have updated the guidelines of Conversation. Changes include a brief review of moderation and an explanation on how to use the button "report abuse". To learn more.

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Thai soldier dies as violated the cease-fire with Cambodia - Reuters

Thais anti-explosive officers remove the shells with explosives found in Hua Ang village rubber plantation, in the province of Surin on the border between Cambodia and the Thailand on April 29, 2011. A Thai soldier is dead and four wounded in other clashes during the night on a disputed stretch of border between the Thailand and Cambodia, a Thai army spokesman, said Friday, as a ceasefire agreed the previous day did not have to take.

Credit: Reuters/Sukree SukplangBy Sukree Sukplang

SURIN, Thailand. Friday, April 29, 2011 2: 15 p.m. EDT

SURIN, Thailand (Reuters) - the Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire as early as Friday, breaking a ceasefire agreed the day before to end a week of border clashes that killed 16 people and injured scores in conflict of deadliest border of Asia over the years.

Each side blames the other for shooting first, but both said they still wanted to give the truce a chance.

Brief clashes with weapons fire and hand grenades small broke out two times per night, Thai regional commander of the army that thawatchai Samutsakorn said. The clash killed a Thai soldier and four others wounded. It was not step clear if there were losses on the Cambodian side.

The ceasefire was supposed to put an end to a week of sporadic and petit-rocket artillery inflamed nationalist passions in both countries, threatened to overshadow the elections in Thailand and reinforced doubts about the ambitions of Southeast Asia to form a community of style of the European Union by 2015.

The guns are silent since 3 o'clock in the morning but tension remained high with the troops still stationed nearby on two ancient temples in the Dongrak mountains poorly demarcated.

Thailand blamed the latest skirmish on a misunderstanding on the ground in Cambodia.

"On the side of Thailand, we understand the ceasefire but Cambodia agreement may have problems," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters. "But give us a chance and examine the situation positively - their communications can have problems and the chain of command may be ineffective."

Commander of Cambodia, Colonel Suos Sothea, denied the Cambodian troops had fired everything first.

The Cambodian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that it was "regrettable" that Thai troops had attacked and said that the Cambodian army had always respected the ceasefire agreement.

Thursday, the two parties have agreed to keep troops in the region, but regular meetings between commanders on the ground and leave their territorial disputes long reach a joint boundary commission.

They also agreed to open border control points near two Hindu temples in the 12th century challenged at the heart of the fighting, although it was not clear, when the villagers would be allowed back permanently to their distance, ravaged cities.

More than 60,000 were evacuated during the fighting.

"STILL SAFE STEP."

The two parties remained at odds which controlled the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples after fighting that killed at least eight Cambodian and Thailand eight.

"We have to remain vigilant in the coming days to ensure that everyone on the field includes the agreement," said the Thai regional commander Thawatchai Samutsakorn.

Thailand insists that the ruins stone-walled reside in the province of Surin as a map of 1947. In Cambodia, says that they are in the province of Oddar Meanchey. Sovereignty over three temples - Ta Moan and Ta Krabey border over Preah Vihear - and the jungle they been challenged since the retreat of the French in Cambodia in the 1950s.

Analysts have expressed their scepticism conflict - which erupted in February near Preah Vihear, the death of 11 persons - is really on sovereignty and say that it seems politically driven on both sides. Some say hawkish generals in Thailand is in collusion with the nationalists to foment a crisis that could force the cancellation of the elections, scheduled in July and to marginalize the powerful opposition to preserve the stranglehold of the royalist establishment power.

In the village of border Hua Ang, dozens of civilians returned with mistrust to check their houses and agricultural land.

"This ceasefire seems a little suspicious." Look at what happened last night, "said Pailin Naralit, a 49-year old village Chief Deputy that he walked through his damaged rubber plantation."

"I am to check on my house and dating safe soon." I do not think that it is safe here yet. ?

(Other reports by Ambika Ahuja and Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok and Prak Chan Toul in Phnom Penh;) Written by Alan Raybould; (Editing by Yoko Nishikawa)

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Bahrain sentences 4 protesters to death - New York Times

Three other activists who were also the trial in the same case received sentences of life in prison.

The of Bahrain human rights activists expressed fears that the verdicts could generate a new wave of protests in the small Kingdom of the Persian Gulf. They also argued that the trial was rendered unfair by a series of legal abuse, including the arrest of one of the lawyers, defendants, Mohammed al-Tajer, one of the most prominent lawyers of the Bahrain. The suspects were also prohibited from meeting with their families, and the media were not allowed to cover the trial.

"These verdicts will have a considerable negative impact on the Bahraini society," said Mohamed Maskati, who leads a group of human rights in the Kingdom. "We fear brutal violence in the coming days." I am not optimistic at all - especially that might be more similar verdicts in the near future. ?

Other activists refused to talk, citing the wave of arrests that swept the country over the past two months.

Amnesty International urged the Bahrain to not make the verdict.

"They must respect the right to a fair trial and that they must step use the death penalty in all circumstances," he said in a statement published Thursday.

The defendants said Bahraini authorities had the right of appeal, although Amnesty International and local human rights groups said that the appeal would be negligible at this stage.

"The defendants received all legal rights under the international laws of human rights", the Bahraini Government said in a statement released Thursday. "The verdict is a clear indication of the absolute condemnation of the barbaric crimes and a deep commitment to the protection of life valuable community."

The Shiite majority of the Bahrain, which has long complained of marginalization by the ruling Sunni elite, the streets the month last in mass demonstrations and sit-ins demanding of reform, equal rights and freedoms. The King declares martial law and requested the assistance of the Saudi troops crackdown on protests and to crush the dissent.

At least 30 people were reported killed since the demonstrations began in March, among them four in custody. Activists of the human rights said that they are dead after that they were brutally tortured. The Bahraini authorities have recognized the death but no have not explained them.

Bahrain events have been inspired by the Tunisian and Egyptian, uprisings in which the Presidents of both countries intervened under popular pressure after only a few weeks.

Seven leaders of the opposition in the Bahrain were accused of the premeditated murder of the employees of the Government. Military prosecutors introduced a video that has been suggested that the demonstrators had crushed the police with a car. Counsel for the accused denied the charges.

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Thai soldier dies as violated the cease-fire with Cambodia - Reuters

Thais anti-explosive officers remove the shells with explosives found in Hua Ang village rubber plantation, in the province of Surin on the border between Cambodia and the Thailand on April 29, 2011. A Thai soldier is dead and four wounded in other clashes during the night on a disputed stretch of border between the Thailand and Cambodia, a Thai army spokesman, said Friday, as a ceasefire agreed the previous day did not have to take.

Credit: Reuters/Sukree SukplangBy Sukree Sukplang

SURIN, Thailand. Friday, April 29, 2011 2: 15 p.m. EDT

SURIN, Thailand (Reuters) - the Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire as early as Friday, breaking a ceasefire agreed the day before to end a week of border clashes that killed 16 people and injured scores in conflict of deadliest border of Asia over the years.

Each side blames the other for shooting first, but both said they still wanted to give the truce a chance.

Brief clashes with weapons fire and hand grenades small broke out two times per night, Thai regional commander of the army that thawatchai Samutsakorn said. The clash killed a Thai soldier and four others wounded. It was not step clear if there were losses on the Cambodian side.

The ceasefire was supposed to put an end to a week of sporadic and petit-rocket artillery inflamed nationalist passions in both countries, threatened to overshadow the elections in Thailand and reinforced doubts about the ambitions of Southeast Asia to form a community of style of the European Union by 2015.

The guns are silent since 3 o'clock in the morning but tension remained high with the troops still stationed nearby on two ancient temples in the Dongrak mountains poorly demarcated.

Thailand blamed the latest skirmish on a misunderstanding on the ground in Cambodia.

"On the side of Thailand, we understand the ceasefire but Cambodia agreement may have problems," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters. "But give us a chance and examine the situation positively - their communications can have problems and the chain of command may be ineffective."

Commander of Cambodia, Colonel Suos Sothea, denied the Cambodian troops had fired everything first.

The Cambodian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that it was "regrettable" that Thai troops had attacked and said that the Cambodian army had always respected the ceasefire agreement.

Thursday, the two parties have agreed to keep troops in the region, but regular meetings between commanders on the ground and leave their territorial disputes long reach a joint boundary commission.

They also agreed to open border control points near two Hindu temples in the 12th century challenged at the heart of the fighting, although it was not clear, when the villagers would be allowed back permanently to their distance, ravaged cities.

More than 60,000 were evacuated during the fighting.

"STILL SAFE STEP."

The two parties remained at odds which controlled the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples after fighting that killed at least eight Cambodian and Thailand eight.

"We have to remain vigilant in the coming days to ensure that everyone on the field includes the agreement," said the Thai regional commander Thawatchai Samutsakorn.

Thailand insists that the ruins stone-walled reside in the province of Surin as a map of 1947. In Cambodia, says that they are in the province of Oddar Meanchey. Sovereignty over three temples - Ta Moan and Ta Krabey border over Preah Vihear - and the jungle they been challenged since the retreat of the French in Cambodia in the 1950s.

Analysts have expressed their scepticism conflict - which erupted in February near Preah Vihear, the death of 11 persons - is really on sovereignty and say that it seems politically driven on both sides. Some say hawkish generals in Thailand is in collusion with the nationalists to foment a crisis that could force the cancellation of the elections, scheduled in July and to marginalize the powerful opposition to preserve the stranglehold of the royalist establishment power.

In the village of border Hua Ang, dozens of civilians returned with mistrust to check their houses and agricultural land.

"This ceasefire seems a little suspicious." Look at what happened last night, "said Pailin Naralit, a 49-year old village Chief Deputy that he walked through his damaged rubber plantation."

"I am to check on my house and dating safe soon." I do not think that it is safe here yet. ?

(Other reports by Ambika Ahuja and Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok and Prak Chan Toul in Phnom Penh;) Written by Alan Raybould; (Editing by Yoko Nishikawa)

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Israel rejects Palestinian Government with Hamas - Xinhua

(BEIJING, April 29, Xinhuanet.com)-, Israel warned that he will not negotiate with a Palestinian Government of national unity which Hamas. However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reported that the peace talks with the Jewish State would still be possible, despite a unified position from Fatah of his party with Hamas.

Israel has responded quickly to the Government to form single custodian of the Palestinians.

The country is even taking account of the sanctions, including restrictions on travel and revenue of the withholding tax against the new Government.

Shimon Peres, the Israeli President, said: "if Hamas will be elected with a Charter to destroy Israel, with permission to continue to be a terrorist organization, but... What is the Israel option?" What can we do but to defend our lives? ?

Benjamin Netanyahu said, "the Palestinian Authority must choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas." Peace with both is impossible with the goal of Hamas to destroy the State of Israel, he expresses openly. ?

In response, Hamas has insisted that its agreement with Fatah did not any recognition of Israel.

Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan said, "the practical answer is the implementation of all the points of agreement." "Israel has to realize that they should not intervene in internal Palestinian Affairs".

In his first remarks since the agreement unveiled, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reported negotiations with Israel would still be possible under the new interim Government.

He added that the Organization for the liberation of Palestine or P-L-O, which excludes Hamas, would be liable.

He has said, "the policy is the PLO, for the President, for the Executive Committee of the PLO, President, myself of the PLO." Therefore we will continue the policy of handling and negotiations, discussions, contacts with countries - around the world it is our duty to do so. ?

Between Israel and Abbas administration peace talks resumed in September in Washington. But they quickly collapsed on the continuation of the construction by Israel of the settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

(Source: CNTV)

Special report: Palestine-Israel conflict

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Nations United fails to agree on the Suppression of manifestations of Syria - Aljazeera.net

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Russia said it was concerned about violence on both sides of the unrest which has killed hundreds [AFP/SANA] Syrian

The UN Security Council has failed to agree on a statement condemning Syria's deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters.

Envoys attending a special open meeting on Syria in New York on Wednesday said Russia, China and Lebanon opposed the wording of a draft resolution distributed by European nations.

France called for "strong measures" if Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, rejects appeals to end violence which has killed hundreds.

The US said Assad must "change race now and heed the calls of his own people" for change.

"A real threat to regional security could come from outside interference." "such approaches lead to a never ending circle of violence"

Alexander Pankin, Russian deputy an envoy

Russia, after blocking a Security Council statement condemning the violence, however insisted that the Syrian crackdown did not amount to a threat to international peace and security, grounds that would justify international action.

"A real threat to regional security could come from outside interference," Alexander Pankin, the Russian deputy an ambassador, told the council.

"such approaches lead to a never ending circle of violence" and could set off civil war.

Bashar Ja 'Ja'afari, the Syrian ambassador to the UN, welcomed the Security Council's inaction, saying his government was carrying out an investigation into the violence and that there was no need for a A commission.

Al Jazeera's Kristin Saloomey reporting from the A said any hope for Security Council action is dead for the moment.
"The council was not able to agree on even the most basic form of the statement calling for calm and calling for an investigation."

Our one match said Russia offered the strongest opposition to the move saying they were concerned about violence in Syria, purpose on both sides.

"In the end there were isolated statements of concern from various countries, but no unified action by the council."

China and India called for political dialogue and peaceful resolution of the crisis, with no mention of condemnation.

Nawaf Salam, the Lebanese envoy, said his country shared a special relationship with Syria, and that "the hearts and minds" of the Lebanese people are with the Syrians, and are supporting Assad's lifting of the state of emergency and reforms.

UNSC Division

The Syrian violence has sparked global criticism in recent days.

France, Britain, Germany and Portugal circulated a draft media statement on Monday calling for the 15-member Security Council to reckless the violence.

Purpose during consultations on Wednesday afternoon, several members opposed the move.?The UN Security Council then moved into open the session to hear a briefing from the A political chief and statements from council members.

B. Lynn Pascoe, the under-secretary general for political affairs, told envoys that protesters who began with demands for greater freedom "are now increasingly calling for the downfall of the regime, echoing slogans that have been heard elsewhere in the region".

He told envoys that "a review of the reports of media, international human rights groups, UN agencies and diplomatic missions confirm that the overwhelming majority of protests have been peaceful and unarmed".

"However, there have been credible reports of a very few instances where protesters have used force, resulting in the deaths of members of the security forces."

Highlighted the "increasingly violent repression" and "siege-like conditions" in Deraa and other cities, Pascoe estimated the number of deaths to be between 350 and 400 people since mid-March.

Rights groups say at least 450 people have been killed.

European pressure

International pressure on Assad began to mount on Wednesday, with European governments urging Syria to end the violence.

"If nothing positive happens, France, with others, will study a series of options aiming to increase pressure on the Syrian regime so that it stops the repression and incurred on the path to reform," Gerard Araud, the French ambassador to the UNsaid.

France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain told Syrian ambassadors in a co-ordinated effort that they condemned the recent crackdown and that Assad must change his ways, according to France's foreign ministry.

The ministry said France expressed its "firm condemnation of the escalation of the repression by Syrian authorities against the people" and called on Syria to respect its international obligations on human rights.

European Union governments will discuss the possibility of imposing sanctions against Syria on Friday, with various measures being explored, a spokesman for the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said.

"All options are on the table," he said.

The US is separately considering targeted sanctions, the country's ambassador has told the UN.

In a related development, the UN's main human-rights body, the Human Rights Council in Geneva, has agreed to hold a special session on Syria on Friday.

The meeting was requested by the US and endorsed by 16 member states including Britain, France, and Japan.

No Arab countries were among those requesting the session, which requires endorsement by one-third of the forum's membership to convene.

Emergency sessions in recent months have launched investigations into alleged human rights violations in Libya and Ivory Coast.

Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general, has called for an independent inquiry into the deaths of people he described as peaceful demonstrators.

Syrian response

Syria's an ambassador has said the country is perfectly capable of conducting its own transparent inquiry into the deaths.

Bashar Jaafari said on Tuesday, Assad had instructed the government "to establish a national commission of inquiry and investigation about all the casualties among civilians" and the envoy pledged "full transparency".

"we have nothing to hide," he said.

"We regret what's going on, but you should also acknowledge the fact that this unrest and riots in some of their aspects, have hidden agendas," he said.

Jaafari accused some foreign governments of trying to destabilise Syria.

His comments came as Syrian opposition figures warned that their "massive grassroots revolution" would break the regime unless Assad leads a transition to democracy.

The statement on Wednesday from an umbrella group of opposition activists in Syria and abroad, called the National Initiative for Change, said a democratic transition will "safeguard the nation from falling into a period of violence, chaos and civil war".

"If the Syrian president does not wish to be recorded in history as a leader of this transition period, there is no alternative left for Syrians except to move forward along the same path as did the Tunisians, Egyptians and Libyans before them""," the statement said.

The opposition in Syria is getting more organised as anti-government protests gain strength, but it is still fragmented.

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