Syria introduces conditions for troop withdrawal

Regime demands written guarantees from armed groups that they will lay down their weapons before April 10 ceasefire. Free Syrian Army commander refuses

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The Syrian government on Sunday appeared to be backing out of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the country’s crisis, saying that it will not withdraw its troops from cities without written guarantees from armed groups that they also will lay down their weapons.

Last week, Syrian President Bashar Assad accepted a ceasefire agreement brokered by international envoy Kofi Annan calling for government forces to withdraw from towns and villages by Tuesday, and for the regime and rebels to lay down their arms by 6 a.m. Thursday. The truce is meant to pave the way for negotiations between the government and the opposition over Syria’s political future.

But in a statement released Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdessi said earlier reports that Damascus would pull its troops from cities and their suburbs by Tuesday were “wrong.”

Makdessi said that Annan has failed so far to submit to the Syrian government “written guarantees regarding the acceptance of armed terrorist groups to halt violence in all its forms and a readiness to lay down weapons.”

He added that Syria will not allow a repeat of what occurred during the Arab League’s observer mission to Syria in January, when the regime pulled back its armed forces from cities and their surroundings, only to see rebels flood the areas vacated by government troops.

“Armed terrorist groups used this to rearm its elements and spread its authority around entire districts,” Makdessi said.

The commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army refused the regime’s demand for a ‘written guarantee’ to end fighting.

Col. Riad al-Asaad said Sunday that his group does not recognize President Bashar Assad’s regime and for that reason they will not give guarantees

Al-Asaad told The Associated Press by telephone from Turkey that if the regime abides by UN and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan’s six-point plan to end the violence, his group will cease fire.

He said the government should withdraw its forces to bases and remove checkpoints from streets.

On Thursday, a UN presidential statement raised the possibility of “further steps” if Syria doesn’t implement the six-point peace plan outlined by Annan, which Assad agreed to on March 25. The statement called on all parties, including the opposition, to halt armed violence in all forms within 48 hours following the Syrian government fulfilling implementation of all measures.

The UN says at least 9,000 people have been killed in Syria since the crisis began 13 months ago.