• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

UN Envoy Urges Syrian Truce For Muslim Holiday

October 15, 2012

International mediator Lakhdar Brahimi has called for a temporary cease-fire in Syria during the four-day Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday later this month.

Brahimi appealed to Iran to assist in achieving a cease-fire in Syria during one of the holiest holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world.

The call came as Brahimi concluded a trip to Tehran, where he met with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, and top security official Saeed Jalili.

Brahimi met with officials in Saudi Arabia and Turkey last week.

He arrived in Iraq on October 15.

Meanwhile, Ankara has given the all-clear for an Armenian plane carrying humanitarian aid to continue its journey to the Syrian city of Aleppo after ordering it to land in eastern Turkey.

The plane was on its way to the Syrian city of Aleppo, which has the largest Armenian community in Syria.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministry officials said the check of the plane had been planned and agreed upon by Turkey and Armenia.

Ankara has stepped up efforts to prevent its air space from being used to supply the Syrian military. It forced down a Syrian airliner traveling from Moscow on October 10, saying it was carrying Russian munitions destined for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, Hurriyet, and DHA

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-syria-eid-al-adha/24739845.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.