Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. EPA
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. EPA
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. EPA
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. EPA

Western powers call for Assad to be held responsible for atrocities


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The US, the UK, France and Germany have called for the Assad regime to be held responsible for atrocities against Syrians, jointly marking the 12th anniversary of the uprising.

The four countries said they would neither normalise relations with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's government nor fund the country's reconstruction “until there is authentic and enduring progress towards a political solution”.

In 2011, Syria was gripped by protests as part of the Arab uprisings in the region.

About 500,000 Syrians have been killed since then.

Amid widespread suffering and the displacement of millions, another 10,000 people died in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck in early February.

“We remain committed to supporting Syrian civil society and ending the human rights violations and abuses the Syrian people have suffered — from the Assad regime and others — long before the earthquakes struck,” the four countries said.

“The international community must work together to hold the Assad regime and all perpetrators of abuses, violations and atrocities accountable.

Demonstrators march in rebel-held Al Bab to mark the twelfth anniversary of the uprising. AFP
Demonstrators march in rebel-held Al Bab to mark the twelfth anniversary of the uprising. AFP

“The ongoing conflict has created a permissive environment for terrorists and drug traffickers to exploit, further threatening regional stability.”

The call came a day after Mr Al Assad travelled to Moscow to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, hoping to ease strains between the Syrian leader and neighbouring Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has sent Turkish troops into northern Syria.

Of the country’s prewar population of 23 million, more than 6.7 million people remain internally displaced with many living in camps, according to the UN.

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Rating: 1/5

Two-step truce

The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.

By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National. 

The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.

The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.

The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.

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Related
QUALIFYING RESULTS

1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.

Eliminated after second session

11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.

Eliminated after first session

15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.

Miguel Cotto world titles:

WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017

THE BIO

Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking

Updated: March 17, 2023, 6:59 AM