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A young Syrian boy watches friends playing at a school where they have sought refuge. AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra/PA

Syria in danger of 'long-term civil war', says UN chief

Meanwhile, Syrian rebels have been forced from key area of Aleppo.

SYRIAN REBELS have been driven out of a key district of Aleppo following heavy bombardment by pro-government forces.

Free Syrian Army commander Hossam Abu Mohammed told the AFP by phone that “we will not let Salaheddin go”, but most rebel forces have fled the area under shellfire and advancing troops.

Correspondents have reported the use of helicopters, fighter jets and tanks in the government’s assault on Syria’s second city.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday criticised both government and opposition forces for continuing to rely on weapons and not diplomacy “in the belief that they will win through violence”.

“But there will be no winner in Syria,” he added. “Now we face the grim possibility of long-term civil war destroying Syria’s rich tapestry of interwoven communities.”

“This would have tragic implications for Syria’s people and could affect stability across the region. We cannot let this prediction come true.”

Former Algerian foreign minister Lakhdar Brahimi is expected to be confirmed soon as the new UN-Arab League envoy to take over from Kofi Annan. Annan resigned earlier this month, saying that when he accepted the envoy role it had seems that it could help end the violence and enforce a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the British government has said it is offering Syria’s rebel forces £5 million to pay for communications equipment and medical supplies.

Foreign Secretary William Hague wrote in an op-ed for the Times of London this morning that the UK is working on its engagement with the Free Syrian Army’s political wing, saying: “We must work to build relationships now with those who may govern Syria in the future.”

Separately, Turkish media has reported that an investigation into wreckage discovered after a Turkish plane was reportedly shot down by Syrian forces near the border has not found any evidence that the plane was actually shot down. The incident seriously damaged already-troubled relations between the neighbouring states and former allies.

Turkey accused Syrian forces of shooting the plane down after it had briefly breached Syrian airspace and returned to international airspace. Syrian officials said their forces shot the plane down with anti-aircraft fire after it entered its airspace.

- Additional reporting by the AP, AFP

UN assembly hits out at Security Council failure on Syria >

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    Mute tomnewnewman.org
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    Aug 10th 2012, 10:50 AM

    Any time an outside power tries to ‘help” in a Civil war situation they end up being blamed as if they actually caused the problem, Anti Americanism has made it more likely that America will just stand back in future.

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    Mute Petr Tarasov
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    Aug 10th 2012, 10:55 AM

    Did you read the thread about agent orange in Vietnam? Let’s bloody hope they ‘stand back’.

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    Mute George Harrington
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    Aug 10th 2012, 12:39 PM

    Funny the way Ban Ki Moon critised both sides lack of diplomacy/dialogue. He should be critiquing Saudi Arabia and Qatar who both said they would ignore the Kofi Annan peace plan the day after it was announced by Annan. The Russians, Chinese, Syrian government have supposedly bring trying for a while now to get the ‘rebels’ to talk but either the rebels are too divided or the countries who have instigated this rebellion don’t want to enter into discussions with the Syria government.

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    Mute Andrew Eager
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    Aug 10th 2012, 7:50 PM

    Or the Russian, Chinese and Syrian Govt’s might be playing for time while they go about levelling the country and putting back another 50 years, the democracy, and basic human rights you take for granted George.

    Only yesterday or the day before you were insisting that it was the FSA which were the ones that had prevented peace talks, yet above, it says “UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday criticised both government and opposition forces for continuing to rely on weapons and not diplomacy “in the belief that they will win through violence”.”

    You’re about as fair and balanced as Fox News.

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    Mute Damocles
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    Aug 10th 2012, 11:54 AM

    No flies on these UN lads, eh?

    It’s been going on for more than a year and they say it might be “long term”.

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    Mute D B cooper
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    Aug 10th 2012, 10:46 AM

    A lot of bullshit been spoken if the fsa were supplied with the hardware they need it would be over now

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    Mute stayfrostynatty
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    Aug 10th 2012, 10:54 AM

    Your headline is misleading cos syria has been fightin for a year and a half so is a full blown civil war..

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    Mute Peter
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    Aug 10th 2012, 11:03 AM

    the most important video that cuts through the bulshit

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcZKso_Z6M8

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Aug 10th 2012, 12:05 PM

    Do you really want to quote fox news?

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Aug 10th 2012, 12:14 PM

    Peter, could it not be argued that the soviet union caused the creation of Al Qaeda by invading Afghanistan in 1980 in the first place and now Russia is helping Syria defend itself against said fighters? Why does everything have to come back to the CIA? This person has picked out events and weaves them into a story to suit himself. It’s crap journalism from fox news!!!

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    Mute Andrew Eager
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    Aug 10th 2012, 7:57 PM

    Fox News, as a legitimate source? As Miley Byrne used to say, Well Holy God!

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    Mute Petr Tarasov
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    Aug 10th 2012, 10:47 AM
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    Mute Peter
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    Aug 10th 2012, 11:03 AM
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