World 2 Site: Syria: Kofi Annan to brief UN security council

. Annan said the Syrian government's disappointing response

Turkey, given the buffer zone - Erdogan

aa . Livestream attack catches apparent protest Raqqah

Read the latest summary

3:58 p.m.:

following is a summary of key developments today:

In a report to the Security Council, Kofi Annan, the UN envoy, the Arab League in particular Syria, described the reports, the government response Syria in its peace proposal as disappointing so far.

However, the former UN chief has insisted he would go ahead and asked members of the Security Council to unite behind their efforts to reach a cease- fire.

Despite the request of Kofi Annan of the unit, the comments of the Governments of France and Russia suggested that there is still the distance between their respective positions

. Mikhail Bogdanov, a deputy foreign minister, said Russia had encouraged the Syrian government to cooperate with Kofi Annan and accused the Western and Arab states not to encourage the opposition to do the same. Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, has insisted that any resolution of the Security Council UN Syria should go beyond the call for a truce, and press for a political transition, with unilateral stepping Assad to stop the violence.

Annan sent a technical team in Damascus next week to discuss a proposal to deploy international observers
, his spokesman told Reuters.

an attack apparently a demonstration against the regime in the north-central city of Raqqa was captured in the livestreaming Bambuser site.

People can be seen fleeing, some carrying down in fire and smoke, while the sound of gunfire could be heard. Local Coordination Committees militant group said six people were killed and wounded more than 15 years. The LCC, whose reports can not be independently verified, said that the tanks stormed the city.

. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey is considering a "security" or "buffer zone" along its border with Syria. Erdogan also said the Turkish ambassador in Damascus, can be removed

after all Turkish citizens, who were advised to leave - to return to Turkey. Erdogan raised the possibility of a buffer zone, which is believed to have been previously discussed by the Turkish government, after the last influx of refugees from Syria - about 1,250 in the last 48 hours, to escape a military attack Idlib province border

Two Turkish journalists missing in Syria are alive and were handed over to the Syrian government
, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said. He said that Ankara is working to secure the release of Adem Coskun Ozkose and Altintop, who have not heard since traveled Idlib a week ago.

The Syrian ambassador left the UK.

The British Foreign Office has confirmed the departure of Sami Khiyami and said it was a matter "of the Syrian government." It is unclear whether there are immediate plans to replace it.

3:35 p.m.:

blogger said that the Syrian Baath Party headquarters was destroyed in Raqqah Raqqah today. Enduring America suggests that this could be the reason why an attack on the demonstration in the city (see 14:14). However, the Syrian blogger is not clear exactly when the headquarters were destroyed before or after the demonstration was broken.

You know that the regime fell in a city when protesters burn the branch of the Baath Party. He arrived in the city of Al Raqqa today. # Syria

- Nuff Silence (@ NuffSilence) March 16, 2012

3:11 p.m.:

, Kofi Annan, told the Security Council's response to the Syrian government's peace initiative was disappointing

diplos UN: Kofi Annan says # Security Council has no illusions about the enormity of the task, following the peace plan despite the disappointing response # Syria

- Barbara Plett (@ BBCBarbaraPlett) March 16, 2012

2:58 p.m.:
Reuters has some details of the conference of the UN Kofi Annan and it is fair to say that what is time to come is not surprising:

sent to the League of Nations on the crisis Syrian Arab Annan, Kofi urged the Security Council to overcome the stagnation and to unite in support of their efforts to end violence that has taken to Syria, on the brink of civil war, UN diplomats said Friday.

Addressing a closed session of the board by video conference from 15 countries, Annan said the strong is your message in support of their efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, the most your chance to change the dynamics of the conflict, diplomats council told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

14:45: Coordinating Committees aa local (LCC), a group of activists has posted more updates on the apparent attack on protesters in Raqqa, in north central Syria, captured in a stream (see 14:14).

reports on six martyrs and more than 15 injured by security forces and Shabiha [pro-regime militias] balls, including four children.

capture of the city with tanks in the middle of gunfire and army deployment in the city, and reports of a massacre, while the demo of the dispersion. The number [deaths] is stil unknown

Alsayed Kahtan Mohammad Ahmad was martyred today after being shot by security forces in the city.

reports of CCA can not be independently verified.

14:26:

Kofi Annan co-Arab League envoy in Syria is sending a team to Damascus next week to discuss a proposal to deploy international observers there, his spokesman told Reuters. Commenting on a statement by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been on the official news agency, Sana Ahmad Fawzi said:

I can confirm that one of the suggestions of these proposals is a monitoring mechanism. It is sending a team - a technical mission - to Damascus next week to discuss the details of this mechanism and how to implement other elements of the proposals

Annan must report to the Security Council in Geneva from 14:00 GMT today.

2:14 p.m.:

An attack on an apparent protest Raqqah in the north-central Syria, was captured on video on the site Bambuser livestreaming.

The picture quality is not great, but the sound of gunfire can be heard and about 10 minutes, the fire and black smoke can be seen. Fire and black smoke is more intense and 18mins 30secs in some people seem to be on the run, some of them wounded, while people shout "Allahu Akbar (God is great)."

Local Coordination Committees militant group
reported:

Raqqah: Many protesters were killed and injured when security forces opened fire on the mass rally that emerged in the city today

Twitter activist said eight people died. The report can not be independently verified.

Raqqa: Number of initial death of the media center - 8 killed, including three children. Dozens injured.

- Free Syria (@ ArabSpringFF) March 16, 2012

1:54 p.m.:

The diplomatic conflict continues in Syria with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppé, insisting that any resolution of UN Security Council in Syria must go beyond a truce and pressure for a political transition, with unilateral stepping Assad to stop the violence.
Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in an interview in Le Monde, it's "red lines" for France and said he saw "a slight change" in the position of Russia, the greatest opponent claims a regime change in Syria. He said:

I have two red lines. I can not accept that we are the oppressors and victims in the same boat. The plan must begin the cessation of hostilities. The second red line can not be satisfied with a single resolution and humanitarian ceasefire. There must be a reference to a political settlement based on the proposal of the Arab League ...

is a nightmare. This regime has gone mad. We support Kofi Annan, to implement its mission, but do not be fooled by the manipulation of the Syrians. The Arab League plan is not expected out of Bashar al-Ashad. It has set aside and, more specifically, to appoint his deputy to negotiate and initiate transition. This is really the minimum.
push arms shipments to Syria in a civil war that could be terrible, because we can see the determination of different communities. It saddens me to see the Christian hierarchy, Catholic and Orthodox continue to side with Assad.

Submitted

Middle East Russia Mikhail Bogdanov, said today that Russia has been to encourage the Syrian government to cooperate with Kofi Annan and the West should encourage opposition to a dialogue.

24:56:

following is a summary of key developments to date:

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey is considering a "security" or "buffer zone" along its border with Syria

. Erdogan also said the Turkish ambassador in Damascus, may be withdrawn after that all Turkish citizens, who were advised to leave - to return to Turkey. Erdogan raised the possibility of a buffer zone, which is believed to have been previously discussed by the Turkish government, after the last influx of refugees from Syria - about 1,250 in the last 48 hours, to escape a military attack Idlib province border

Submitted

of Russia in the Middle East, warned that the statements of Western and Arab countries this rule is illegitimate Assad are "cons-productive"

because they discourage the opposition to engage in dialogue. Mikhail Bogdanov, a deputy foreign minister, said Russia had encouraged the Syrian government to cooperate with Kofi Annan, the UN envoy to the Arab League, Syria.

Two Turkish journalists missing in Syria are alive and were handed over to the Syrian government , Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said. He said that Ankara is working to secure the release of Adem Coskun Ozkose and Altintop, who have not heard since traveled Idlib a week ago.

The Syrian ambassador left the UK. The British Foreign Office has confirmed the departure of Sami Khiyami
and said it was "a matter for the Syrian government." It is unclear whether there are immediate plans to replace it.

Syrian troops clashed with army deserters in several areas near the capital, Damascus, in the first major battles he forces Assad regained control of the suburbs for weeks
, activists said. This Dumair Qatana and were among the areas where fighting has been reported.

24:46: large minority Alawite

of Turkey, known as Alevis, is concerned about the Turkish support for the anti-regime Protesters in Syria Sofia Echo reports:

At a meeting of the Alevis in the center of Istanbul, Ali Kenanoglu, talks about the critical situation in Syria and the strong support of Turkish Prime Minister of the Syrian opposition.

Kenanoglu is the head of the company Hubyar Alevi cultural Sultan of Istanbul. He says the support of the Prime Minister may well play especially between Sunni supporters of the ruling AK Party, but generates a growing concern among the Alevis in Turkey.

He said that the Syrian opposition is not democracy. Kenanoglu said some of the groups fighting against the fears of the Syrian government invoked between Alevis of the persecution they suffered in the past Sunni leaders.

Last month, Turkish Alevis gathered near the Syrian border in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Ferzat take part in a panel discussion entitled Culture Under Fire: Creative Resistance in Syria in the middle of free speech as an event Farringdon.The is part of the coil cultural festival in Syria (full program here).

11:59:
the exact words of Turkish Prime Minister about the possibility of a buffer zone were, according to Reuters: