Syrian rebels refuse to give regime guarantees
By BASSEM MROUE and ALBERT AJI, Associated Press
Apr 8, 2012 6:45 AM CDT
Syrian rebels refuse to give regime guarantees
In this Friday, April 6, 2012 photo, Free Syrian Army fighters gather on a corner during fighting with Syrian troops in a suburb of Damascus, Syria. Syrian government shelling and offensives against rebel-held towns killed dozens of people across the country on Saturday, activists said, as the U.S....   (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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