Syria accepts the peace plan but fighting persists. And world leaders to continue efforts on preventing nuclear terrorism. I’m Frances Alonzo reporting from Washington.
International peace envoy Kofi Annan says Syria has accepted his plan to resolve the country’s year-long opposition uprising. However, fighting between government and rebel forces continues. A spokesman for the former U.N. general said Mr. Annan has stressed (implementation) and urged President Bashar al-Assad to place commitments into immediate affects. Mr. Annan was in Beijing where he met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to build international support for the Syria (peace initiative). Mr. Wen said China backs a mediation effort. Stephanie Ho has more detail.
Stephanie Ho: “In sign of how important China see the ongoing crisis in Syria, one of the country’s top leaders, Premier Wen Jiabao, met ith Kofi Annan Tuesday in Beijing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters his government welcomes international efforts to resolve the Syria issue peacefully. He says China wants to work with the international community to play a (constructive and active role) for what he called the proper peaceful resolution on the Syria situation. He adds that China supports special envoy Annan’s good offices to resolve the situation. But he stopped short of saying whether Beijing (fully supports) his Syrian peace plan. Stephanie Ho VOA news, Beijing.”
Leaders of more than 50 nations have reaffirmed their commitment to reducing the world’s stockpiles of nuclear weapons. U.S. President Barack Obama told the attendees that the start of Tuesday’s final session of the two-day nuclear security summit in Seoul and international community make a serious and (sustained) effort to reduce the world’s stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
Barack Obama: “There are still too many bad actors, eh, in search of these dangerous materials and these dangerous materials are still vulnerable to many places. It would not take much, just a (handful) of these materials, to kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people. And that’s not exaggeration, that’s the reality we face.”
The president also said on Tuesday the clarified (private remarks) about missile defense to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev inadvertently picked up by a live microphone. Mr. Obama privately told the Russian President that this year is his last selection and that he would have more (flexibility) after he is elected. Mr. Obama later told reporters that the United States is in the middle of presidential election campaign and Russia just held a vote and is transferring power. He said the current volatile political environment is not conducive to sensitive negotiation on missile defense and (arms control). President Obama also says that Pakistan to review of its ties with the United States should not only respect Pakistan’s sovereignty but also U.S. security needs. Mr. Obama spoke to reporters Tuesday moment before private talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the (sidelines) of an international nuclear summit in Seoul.
Pope Benedict arrived in Santiago, Cuba Monday, and led a Mass in honor of national religious icon. VOA’s Jerome Socolovsky.
Jerome Socolovsky: “The pope led hundreds of thousands in prayer in Santiago and gave his (homily) in a German-accented Spanish. The pope stood on a platform that was erected against the stark backdrop of a Cuban independence monument that consists of 23 giant rusted spikes. In an apparent allusion to the decade and a half in which Cuba was officially an (atheist state), he said that when God is pushed aside, the world becomes an (inhospitable) place for man. Jerome Socolovsky, VOA news, Havana, Cuba.”
South Sudan is accusing Sudan of launching a second day of airstrikes on (oil-rich territory) along their disputed border. South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir says the north’s air force bombed two areas in the south’s unity state.
Amnesty International says a declining number of mainly Asian countries continue to carry out the (death penalty) and at an alarming rate in 2011. The rights group says Tuesday only 10% of the countries in the world now employ capital punishment that represents decline of more than a third a decade ago. Hose Luoisdia, the head of the Amnesty International Human Office, says those countries continue to go against the globe trend.
I’m Frances Alonzo, VOA news.