Syrian rebels refuse to give regime guarantees
By BASSEM MROUE and ALBERT AJI, Associated Press
Apr 8, 2012 6:45 AM CDT
This satellite image posted on the U.S. Embassy Damascus Facebook page Saturday, April 7, 2012, shows the presence of a military convoy in Zirdana, Syria on April 5, right, next to imagery of the same area on April 4, showing no military convoy, according to information shown on the U.S. Embassy Damascus...   (Associated Press)

The commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army has refused a regime demand for a 'written guarantee' to end fighting.

Col. Riad al-Asaad's comments come hours after Syria demanded "written guarantees" that its opponents will lay down their weapons before the government withdraws its troops from cities, derailing a U.N.-brokered truce that was supposed to start in two days.

Al-Asaad said Sunday that his group does not recognize President Bashar Assad's regime and for that reason they will not give guarantees.

Al-Asaad told The Associated Press by telephone from Turkey that if the regime abides by U.N. and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan's six-point plan to end the violence, his group will cease fire.

He said the government should withdraw its forces to bases and remove checkpoints from streets.

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