TEHRAN // The UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan said it would be "disastrous" if rebels fighting the Syrian regime were to be armed, as proposed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
"I've always said the militarisation of the conflict will be disastrous," Mr Annan told a news conference today in Tehran during a visit to Iran, Syria's chief ally in the Middle East.
Mr Annan, who drew up a six-point plan to end combat in Syria, said a new conflict could not be tolerated in the Middle East.
The envoy said he believed his plan could still be salvaged and be fully implemented by a deadline at 6am Damascus time tomorrow if both the Syrian regime and rebels respected its terms.
Fresh violence erupted in different parts of Syria early today, activists reported.
The Local Coordination Committees said there is shelling of several rebel-held neighbourhoods in the central city of Homs.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "tens of army vehicles" are deploying in the southern town of Maaraba amid intense shooting.
The violence came as Mr Annan said the Syrian government had assured him it will respect tomorrow's ceasefire with rebel forces.
"I have received government assurances they will respect the ceasefire. If everyone respects it I think by 6 in the morning on Thursday we shall see improved conditions on the ground," he said. Mr Annan said it was important that regional governments work with Syria to resolve the crisis, adding that Iran could be part of the solution.
Tehran has voiced its support for Annan's six-point plan as long as it does not call for the removal of Bashar Al Assad, the Syrian president.
Speaking alongside Mr Annan, the Iranian foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, said: "The opportunity must be given to the Syrian government to make changes under the leadership of Bashar Al Assad."
* With additional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
