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Syrian opposition leader calls for no-fly zone

Published:Monday | August 13, 2012 | 12:00 AM
In this August 8 file photograph, Syrians check the damage of a destroyed school after it was hit by an air strike killing six Syrians in the town of Tal Rifat on the outskirts of Aleppo city, Syria. In recent months, Syria's rebels have extended control over a large swath of territory in the northeastern corner of the country, after forcing the army from town after town in a string of bloody street battles. AP

BEIRUT (AP):

The head of Syria's main opposition group in exile yesterday called for international powers to impose a no-fly zone in border areas to protect civilians who are coming under increasingly intense attacks by regime warplanes and helicopters.

The president of the Syrian National Council, Abdelbaset Sieda, told The Associated Press that such a move by the international community would show President Bashar Assad's regime that his opponents around the world are serious.

The Syrian opposition has been calling for a no-fly zone over Syria for months. But Sieda renewed the plea a day after US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Washington and Turkey were discussing a range of steps, including a no-fly zone over some parts of Syria, as the regime increasingly uses its air force to attack rebels.

"There must be special protection," Sieda said by telephone. "The numbers of martyrs are increasing, and destruction too. If the country keeps going this way, then we are heading to a catastrophe."

Asked who will impose the no-fly zone, Sieda said: "We leave it to the international community."

Russia and China have vetoed attempts to pass tough UN Security Council resolutions aimed at Assad's regime. Last week, the UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, announced his resignation, following a frustrating six-month effort that failed to achieve even a temporary cease-fire.

Safe havens for refugees

Sieda said the no-fly zone should be along borders with Jordan and Turkey, adding that the opposition had called for such a move during last month's Friends of Syria meeting in Paris attended by world powers.

"Now that Syria's air force is taking part in bombing cities and towns, there must be protection for the Syrian people. There must be a no-fly zone so that there will be safe havens for refugees," he said.

Syria's civil war has spread to almost every province in the country and the death toll has increased over the past weeks. Activists say more than 20,000 people have been killed since the revolt against Assad's authoritarian rule began in March 2011.