More attacks in Syria after arrival of UN observers: Assad

Moscow, May 17 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The number of terrorist attacks in Syria has increased since UN observers arrived in the country, President Bashar al-Assad told the Rossiya 24 TV channel.

"We have redeployed our troops, and as for terrorist attacks their number has grown sharply. The situation has not improved," Assad was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Over 200 UN observers have been deployed in Syria to monitor the ceasefire between the government and armed rebels.

Assad hailed the Russian and Chinese efforts in ensuring regional stability.

"They (Russia and China) do not support me as president. They promote stability in the region and have a very good understanding of Syria's role and importance (in the Middle East)," he said.

Without them Syria, as well as the region as a whole, "would be swept by chaos", he said.

Russia and China have twice vetoed UN Security Council resolutions over what they called a pro-rebel bias since the start of the uprising against Assad, but have given their full backing to a peace plan proposed by the UN envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan.

More than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria since the outbreak of a popular uprising against Assad in March 2011, the UN said.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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