This Article is From Aug 11, 2011

Syria unrest: Assad admits 'some mistakes made by security forces'

Syria unrest: Assad admits 'some mistakes made by security forces'
United Nations: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has acknowledged to a visiting delegation of envoys from India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) that "some mistakes" had been made by his security forces in tackling the unrest in the country.

He assured the IBSA delegation that he is committed to the reform process.

The IBSA delegation comprising Additional Secretary for International Organisations at the Indian Foreign Ministry Dilip Sinha, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Ebrahim Ebrahim and Brazil's Under Secretary for Middle East affairs Paulo Cordeiro went to Damascus to discuss the current situation in Syria and the way forward.

President Assad "acknowledged that some mistakes had been made by the security forces in the initial stages of the unrest and that efforts were underway to prevent their recurrence," according to a statement released by India's UN mission.

Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Walid Al-Moualem also informed the delegation that "free and fair elections to the Parliament will be held in Syria before end 2011" reiterating that Syria will be a "free, pluralistic and multi-party democracy before the end of the year."

The Syrian president "reassured the delegation of his commitment to the reform process, aimed at ushering in multi-party democracy, including through revision of the constitution," the statement said.
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