EU ‘Worried’ that Syria 'is not Fulfilling Commitments'

The Syrian authorities are failing to respect a ceasefire pledge to withdraw troops from urban centers in accordance with an agreed peace plan, the European Union said Friday.

"We are very worried about the continued violence despite the ceasefire adopted by the Syrian regime," said a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"The Syrian regime clearly is not fulfilling its commitments," said Michael Mann. "They had promised to withdraw their troops from cities but this has not been the case."

President Bashar Assad's regime had agreed to the troop withdrawal under a six-point peace plan brokered by U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

But the truce, which officially started April 12, has barely held.

The EU spokesman said the 27-nation bloc hoped that the arrival of 300 U.N. observers due to monitor the ceasefire in coming weeks would lead to a change of the situation on the ground.

"We are ready to support the mission technically," he added.

He refused to "speculate" however on the possible use of force against the Assad regime.

On Wednesday, France raised the prospect of military intervention if Annan's peace plan fails.

Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the international community would have to move to a U.N. Chapter Seven resolution, which authorizes foreign powers to take measures including military options.