TURKISH FOREIGN minister Ahmet Davutoglu has reiterated his call for direct western humanitarian intervention in Syria.
The minister’s appeal came as UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi arrived in Damascus to present his proposal for a ceasefire during the Muslim feast of sacrifice next week.
Mr Davutoglu said there has to be a “humanitarian mission inside Syria and the international community must be ready to protect it”, with the aim of halting the refugee flow.
He said Turkey would not, however, act alone or without UN authorisation.
The Syrian government warily welcomed Mr Brahimi’s ceasefire proposal, but warned that rebels seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad had no central command that could order a cessation of hostilities.
Iran, which supports the government, and Turkey, which hosts the rebels and provides them with training and logistical support, have backed the plan, which has been welcomed by UN human rights chief Navi Pillay and German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle.
Having Ankara and Tehran on board is essential. Turkey can put pressure on the rebel Free Syrian Army and allied militias to observe the ceasefire, while Iran can urge the government, Iraqi Mahdi Army and Lebanese Shia Hizbullah militiamen – fighting on its side – to suspend operations over the four-day holiday beginning on October 26th.
Opposition spokesmen have said a truce would be possible if the military stops shelling, frees prisoners and lifts the Homs siege.
Meanwhile, fighting rages around the town of Maaret al-Numan, which straddles the main north-south highway linking Damascus and Aleppo. The town was captured by rebels last week, enabling them to disrupt loyalist supplies and reinforcements for the stalemated battle for Aleppo, which is the country’s largest city and main commercial hub.
The town has suffered heavy bombardment.
