Today, a report released by the United Nations and submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, accuses the Syrian government of committing "gross human rights violations" tantamount to "crimes against humanity". The report, derived from 360 interviews with individuals inside Syria, also charges that security crackdowns constituted state policy from coming from “the highest levels of the armed forces and the government”. The same report, however, also charges the Free Syrian Army, an armed element of the opposition, of committing serious abuses. To that end, as violence continues to deepen across the country, Syrian officials continue to adamantly charge that they are fighting against armed terrorist groups - an allegation now partially echoed in some parts of Washington, as a number of senior American officials claim that the terrorist group Al-Qaeda is behind some of the country's violence. The same US officials did not publicly put forth related evidence. Last week, the UN General Assembly voted resoundingly in favor of a resolution condemning the violence in Syria. Tomorrow, officials from around the world will convene in Tunisia as part of a new 'Friends of Syria' group focused on addressing Syria's crisis.

Today, the UN General Assembly is scheduled to vote on a resolution strongly condemning the violence in Syria. The vote will be held in the afternoon, just hours after UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon accused Damascus of committing crimes against humanity during the crackdown against the opposition. In the central city of Homs, the military incursion continues as government forces continue to fight areas that it charges are overrun with terrorists. In the background, the international community continues to debate how to respond to the crisis, with the Arab League and Turkey now pushing for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has promised to hold a referendum on the country's new constitution in two weeks, eventually leading to country-wide elections. Meanwhile, the crisis continues to deepen; violence begets violence.

On Saturday, February 4, following several days of intensive negotiations, Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Syria. The vote was held in a rare weekend session, with thirteen member states including France, Britain, and the US voting in favor of the resolution. The vote came as violence in the central city of Homs surged, with unconfirmed casualty reports numbering in the hundreds. Two days later, the US Department of State announced the closure of its embassy in Damascus and the withdrawal of its diplomatic personnel from the country. Six Arab states followed suit on Tuesday, signaling Damascus's deepening isolation.

As unrest narrowed in on the Syrian capital this week, the Arab League moved to suspend the work of its monitoring mission in the country, citing heightened security concerns. At the same time, a number of Arab states along with Britain, France, and Germany, presented the United Nations Security Council with a new draft resolution on Syria. The resolution endorses the Arab League's plan for an overhaul of the current Syrian government. Today, heavy debate over the text continues as Russia and China remain firmly opposed to any text calling for a change in Syria's government - or that could pave the way for international intervention. 

On Sunday, January 22, the Arab League put forth a surprising new peace plan which called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down from power, and for the Syrian government to move forward with negotiating with the opposition, establishing a transitional government, and eventually holding national elections. Damascus immediately shot down the new plan, terming it "blatant interference in its internal affairs". Nevertheless, the government approved a one-month extension of the League's observer mission, which is now set to conclude on February 22. The UN also announced today that fragmented conditions on the ground have caused it to lose track of the death toll from the revolution, another troubling outcome of the country's ongoing crisis.

The mandate of the Arab League's observer mission in Syria came to an end today amid widespread frustration by all sides. The mission is set to release a report on its findings within the next 48 hours, after which, League officials will convene to discuss both the findings and a way forward. The lack of a consensus at numerous levels with regard to how to bring an end to the current violence and the stalemate between the government and the opposition, has intensified in the face of worsening security conditions. On Thursday, the Syrian pound hit a six-year low of 71 to the US dollar, losing a third of its value and serving as troubling indicator of the spiraling cost of the country's current crisis. 

On Tuesday, January 10 during an address at Damascus University, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad highlighted ongoing government reforms and vowed to continue the government's fight against terrorism and international conspirators. For its part, the Arab League observer mission in Syria has already been deemed a failure; violence has heavily intensified with over 400 killed since the first of its members arrived in country two weeks ago. At the same time, fuel and heating oil shortages, as well as a growing dearth of affordable food stuffs, are posing serious challenges to nearly all. 

Weekly posts in the Syria News Blog will resume next Thursday, January 12, 2012. Thank you for your patience. 

The crisis in Syria was officially internationalized when members of the Arab League's observer force arrived in Syria last Thursday. The following day, two car bombs exploded in front of state security offices in Kfar Sousa, Damascus, killing 44 and injuring another 100. The issue of who was responsible for the attack remains in dispute. Three days later, a second group of Arab League monitors arrived in Syria as violence in the central city of Homs intensified. Charged with monitoring the Syrian government's implementation of the Arab League's peace plan, the monitors have thus far been met with mixed emotions and varying levels of violence and disorder.