Syria’s FM Rejects Foreign Intervention

In his address to the United Nations annual assembly session in New York, Syrian foreign minister, Walid al-Moualem appealed to the member states to stop "foreign intervention” in his country.

"We deeply regret the surge in the activities of armed groups in Syria, which have not waned and instead continued to spiral," Moualem told the 193 UN members on Monday.

"We would have liked those countries that spoke in favor of reform to support our official position instead of opting for incitement and defiance," he added.

Moualem blamed foreign intervention for the presence of what he called armed groups who were engaged in violent acts.

"I assure you that our people are determined to reject all forms of foreign intervention in their internal affairs," he said.


He was addressing the world body following the deaths of four Syrian soldiers who were shot dead as they tried to escape a military camp on Monday. According to activists, troops sealed off towns in an ongoing crackdown on opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.

The Syrian foreign minister criticized the United States, European Union and others who imposed sanctions on Syria.

Protests in Syria against the Assad family’s 41 year rule have increased steadily since they first began in March. However, troops and tanks have been sent into cities and towns across the country to quash the uprising which, according to human rights organizers, has killed over 2,700 people.