France utterly condemns Bashar al-Assad’s regime’s ongoing pursuit of the bloody crackdown. We especially denounce the bombing of the town of Souran in Hama region, which killed more than 30 people yesterday and the explosions near the convoy of the head of the observer mission, General Mood, and Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

We pay tribute to the courage and composure demonstrated by UNSMIS which we support in the fulfillment of its extremely difficult mission. More than ever, the international community must stand alongside the peacekeepers so that the Annan plan can be effectively implemented. The daily violations of the ceasefire are intolerable and must stop. We’re receiving daily reports indicating that the regime is continuing to conduct arrests and torture. The next report based on the conclusions presented by UNSMIS at the Security Council will, in these tragic circumstances, be of particular importance

The events of the last few days in Syria and Lebanon again demonstrate the fact that the deterioration of the situation in Syria poses a threat to the region. The continuation of the crackdown poses a threat to regional security. The implementation of a democratic transition that responds to the aspirations of the Syrian people is in everyone’s interests.