Despite UNSC statement,clashes rage across Syria

Syrian troops shelled and raided opposition areas and clashed with rebel fighters

Syrian troops shelled and raided opposition areas and clashed with rebel fighters around the country Thursday despite UN efforts to stop the bloodshed so aid could reach suffering civilians.

Activists cited the fresh violence in dismissing a UN Security Council statement calling for a cease-fire to allow for dialogue between all sides on a political solution. The government of President Bashar Assad also played down the statement,saying Damascus is under no threats or ultimatums. Activists reported dozens of people killed Thursday including at least 12 government soldiers.

Civil strife of the sort we are seeing in Syria can destroy whole societies, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said in Malaysia Thursday. Ban reiterated the statement approved by the UNSCs 15 members the day before.

The statement endorsed a six-point plan by joint UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan,which includes a cease-fire by Syrian forces,a daily two-hour halt to fighting to evacuate injured people and provide humanitarian aid and inclusive talks for a solution.

Western countries have been pushing for UNSC action for months,but Russia and China have twice vetoed resolutions that criticized the regime. Wednesdays statement becomes part of the councils permanent record but is not legally binding.

To gain Russian and Chinese support,France watered down the text,removing clauses that could be seen as opening the door for sanctions or military action.

Syrias state-run news agency played down the UN statement Thursday,saying there are no threats or ultimatums against Damascus.

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Activists in Syria dismissed the statement as too late and impossible to implement since Syrian forces have surrounded entire towns and villages and regularly shell civilian areas. Is there any way the army will remove its checkpoints for two hours? said Fadi al-Yassin from the northern province of Idlib. All of that is empty talk,politics,and weve gotten fed up with all of these decisions.

Many activists say theyve grown frustrated with the international resistance to act.