Assad tours former bastion of rebellion as UN deal nears

President Bashar al-Assad made a rare foray into the heartland of Syria’s year-old uprising, visiting part of the rebel stronghold of Homs that his forces had overrun after weeks of shelling and gunfire, apparently to make the point he can now tour the streets safely.

Syrian state television showed him walking in the ruined streets of the Baba Amr and talking to supporters and troops.

Baba Amr was reclaimed by government forces early this month after 26 days of bombardment which opposition activists said was indiscriminate.

“Life will return to normal in Baba Amr, better than it was before,” Mr Assad said.

Activists say hundreds of civilians and opponents of Mr Assad were killed in Baba Amr in February by shelling and snipers. “He thinks he won and scored a great victory,” said opposition activist Saif Hurria, speaking by phone from Homs. “He wants to show the world he defeated a revolution. But … it seems he can’t even release the video until he has left Homs.”

Opposition supporter Abu Jaafar said Mr Assad’s appearance in Homs was “giving the green light to kill like this again”.

Mr Annan represents the UN and the Arab League.

Through a spokesman he said yesterday that Mr Assad had accepted the basic terms of a peace plan which calls for national dialogue but does not hinge on him leaving office – unlike previous proposals.

Mr Annan’s plan calls for withdrawal of heavy weapons and troops from population centres, humanitarian assistance being allowed in, release of prisoners, freedom of movement and access for journalists.

The UN now estimates more than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria’s upheaval over the past year, UN Middle East envoy Rovert Serry told the Security Council. Syrian authorities blame foreign-backed terrorists and say 3,000 soldiers and police have been killed.

Mr Assad has used the army to crush protests against his 12-year rule but his Alawite Muslim minority and its allies still have substantial popular support in the country.

Mr Annan had said on Monday that Mr Assad’s government could not resist the “winds of transformation”, but it was too early to introduce any timeline for a peaceful solution.

Syrian troops also advanced into north Lebanon yesterday, destroying farm buildings in pursuit of Syrian rebels, local residents said.

Two witnesses in Qaa, who asked that their names not be published, said they saw dozens of troops enter Lebanon. One witness said the Syrian troops burned several homes.

Security appears to be fraying in many parts of Syria despite repeated army offensives to regain rebellious territory.

Activists say the government is struggling to hold such areas for long, with rebels swiftly re-emerging, as they have in other parts of Homs.