EU sends amoured vehicles to bolster UN monitors in Syria

2012-05-12 60

An amoured vehicle is lowered from a plane at Damascus airport.

The European Union's donated 24 protective vehicles to the U.N. after two attacks on its ceasefire monitors.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) VASSILIS BONTOSOGLOU, EU AMBASSADOR AND HEAD OF THE DELEGATION IN SYRIA, SAYING:

"The 24 armoured cars which we are providing is part of more global assistance the European Union is providing to the UN and to the Kofi Annan plan in terms of logistics, in terms of technical assistance and what you see today is part of the assistance."

The most recent incident happened Friday when protesters threw stones at a UN convoy in a Damascus suburb.

U.N. monitors were also targeted on Wednesday, when a roadside bomb blew up in Deraa, killing eight security personnel accompanying the ceasefire observers.

Syria has seen some of the deadliest fighting between government forces and rebels in the last few days.

However, the ceasefire brokers say there is still hope the truce could bring an end to 14 months of violence.

Jessica Gray, Reuters