UN monitor blames increasing Syrian violence on rebels, regime

Violence in Syria is spreading and its the fault of both embattled president Bashar Assad and the rebel groups trying to oist him, the head of the UN observer force there said Monday.

Gen. Babacar Gaye said indiscriminate use of weapons on both sides in urban centers was the cause of the many civilian deaths in the 18-month old civil war. “I deeply regret that none of the parties has prioritized the needs of civilians,” said the official.

There are estimates that more than 20,000 soldiers, rebels and civilians have been killed since the start of the uprising against Assad in March last year.

On Monday, a Syrian diplomat working at the United Nations in Geneva has joined his country’s opposition after deciding he can no longer represent President Bashar Assad’s regime.

A spokesman for the UN Human Rights Council, Rolando Gomez, identified the Syrian as Danny al–Baaj and described him as a junior member of his country’s UN mission. Syria is not a member of the 47-nation council, but al–Baaj worked with it as part of his duties.

“Basically, when I felt I could not help my people any more I had to move on,” al-Baaj told AFP. “When I was involved in any negotiations (on Syria) my concern was to protect the country not the government.”

A growing number of Syrian officials have switched to the opposition as the months have worn on.

Meanwhile Syrian ambassador to Tehran Hamed Hassan said Assad’s government would welcome ‘rational discussion’ with the Syrian opposition forces. The main stipulation for talks is that they be conducted under the supervision of the President, said the envoy.

Rebel groups have said any solution would have to found be independent of Assad, who they say must step down.