BICOM

The US, EU and Arab nations yesterday crafted a severe warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad: Agree to an immediate cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid into areas hardest hit by his regime, or face as-yet unspecified punishments.

US, EU and Arab officials met in London to work out details of an ultimatum to Assad. Diplomats said it would demand immediate compliance or result in additional punitive measures, which likely include toughened sanctions. The ultimatum is to be presented at a major international conference on Syria set for Friday in Tunisia.

A draft of the document obtained by The Associated Press calls on “the Syrian government to implement an immediate cease-fire and to allow free and unimpeded access by the United Nations and humanitarian agencies to carry out a full assessment of needs in Homs and other areas.” Homs has been under a fierce attack by government forces for nearly three weeks.

Russia and China reiterated their continued opposition Thursday to any foreign intervention in Syria. Both states have vetoed two Security Council resolutions backing Arab League plans aimed at ending the conflict in Syria and condemning Assad’s crackdown.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s office said he called his Chinese counterpart on Thursday and they “reaffirmed the joint position of Russia and China,” supporting “a speedy end to any violence in Syria and the launch of inclusive dialogue between the authorities and the opposition without preconditions for a peaceful settlement that excludes foreign interference in Syrian affairs.”

Also on the eve of the meeting in Tunis today, the United Nations announced that former secretary-general Kofi Annan would be the joint UN-Arab League envoy to Syria. Annan’s mandate will be to try to end the violence and arrange a political transition.