Syrian rebels call on Annan to admit ‘failure’

As more footage emerges from Syria (hard to authenticate) purporting to show government attacks, the opposition Free Syrian Army is asking Kofi Annan to announce that his ceasefire plan has failed, to free the rebels to strike back against the government’s forces.

The latest videos claim to show a second day of attacks in restive Homs and Houla – the site of a massacre last weekend in which more than a 100 people died.

The head of the rebel army, General Riyad Asaad, has denied that one of his colonels, Qassim Saadeddine, issued an ultimatum to Damascus earlier.

However, Colonel Saadeddine did give his reasons for wanting to resume attacks against the army: “We announce that there is no justification to continue respecting the truce from one side. The Annan plan arrived in Syria and Assad has buried it by committing massacres in front of the world.”

Meanwhile, UN monitors in Syria have confirmed finding the bodies of 13 men killed execution-style.

The bodies of the men, who were blindfolded and had their hands tied behind their backs, were found in the province of Deir el-Zour. Some of the victims had been shot in the head.

Damascus says it is investigating.

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