Opposition: Syrian Regime 'Trying to Kill Annan Plan'
The Syrian regime is trying to destroy the U.N.-brokered peace plan aimed at ending 14 months of conflict, opposition leader Burhan Ghalioun told reporters in Tokyo on Friday.
"The regime is now trying to kill this (Kofi) Annan plan, and by a new technique which is terrorism," Ghalioun said, a day after suicide bombers killed at least 55 people in horrific attacks in Damascus.
Condemnation came from around the world after the deadliest blasts since the uprising began, with President Bashar al-Assad's embattled regime and the opposition trading accusations of responsibility for the carnage.
Ghalioun was adamant Friday that Assad's government was behind the attacks, which also wounded nearly 400 people and said they were colluding with outside bodies.
"The regime has operated with very closely with al-Qaida and Iraq," he told reporters, adding that the bombings marked a change in tactics.
"We have to notice the timing of these bombings, the bombings started almost as soon as the regime removed heavy forces from the cities, we think there is a connection," he said.
The blasts during the morning rush hour further clouded a U.N.-backed ceasefire brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan that has failed to take hold since it went into effect on April 12.
Ghalioun, the president of the Syrian National Council, said the Annan plan lacked sanctions for failure to comply.
"If the regime fails to implement the plan, it will not get punished, and that is our concern.
"Assad feels that he can run away from the plan without any consequences."
Source: Agence France Presse
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