DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Friday addressed two identical letters to the Head of the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General on the twin terrorist bombings near al-Qazaz intersection in Damascus.

The Capital of the Syrian Arab Republic witnessed two terrorist bombings in the early morning of May 10th, 2012 which claimed the lives of more than 55 Syrian citizens and left more than 370 injured, some of whom suffer severe injuries, in addition to destroying houses, properties and state buildings, the Ministry said in its letters.

The letters stated that Damascus, Aleppo and other Syrian cities witnessed several terrorist bombings over the last weeks which claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people.

In its letters, the Ministry said that "the escalating crimes prove that Syria is facing a terrorist attack led by groups which received arms and financial support by sides that announced support to these terrorist crimes and encouraged committing them.

The Ministry added that well-known instigative media stand behind these terrorist crimes and call for committing more as they justify them and provide them with media support.

The Ministry said that "Since the beginning of events, Syria stressed that those who commit these terrorist acts and those supporting and funding them do not want reform for Syria and its people. Rather, it seems clear that with every reform step taken by the government, including a new constitution for the country and parliamentary elections that reflect political pluralism, the acts of terrorist killing and destruction have increasingly escalated."

"The recent terrorist acts and the killing they bring about, as well as vandalism of private and state institutions and systematic attacks against law-enforcement forces came after Syria's approval of the plan of the UN Special Envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, and its commitment to implement the plan's items," the Ministry said.

"The armed terrorist groups did not only violate the plan of the UN Special Envoy and the initial understanding, but also attacked the convoy of Head of the UN observer mission and his companions on May 9th, 2012 while on their way to Daraa province to carry out their task," added the letters.

"The terrorist groups did not deny committing these crimes. However, their leaders announced that they will go ahead with their terrorist acts and violations of Annan's plan and that they hold the Syrian Arab Republic responsible for their deeds to protect terrorism and support those groups which work to foil the mission of the UN Special Envoy and continue shedding the blood of the innocent Syrians," added the letters.

"The government of the Syrian Arab Republic hopes that the UN Security Council will shoulder its responsibilities in combating terrorism and facing countries that encourage terrorism," the Ministry added.

"Seizing Lutfallah II ship by the Lebanese army proves that Libya and Turkey, in cooperation with other countries, are sending destructive weapons to the terrorist groups to kill,"

"One week ago, the UN Security Council chaired by President of Azerbaijan issued a comprehensive presidential statement on combating terrorism and the need for mobilizing the international community to confront it… In order not to keep the UNSC resolution and statements on paper, Syria stresses the importance of the UNSC taking procedures against countries, sides and media that practice terrorism and encourage it. Syria also reiterates its cooperation with the UN observer mission in Syria to expose sides that practice terrorism and violence and spare no effort to foil the plan of the UN Envoy, Annan,"

"Despite that the terrorist groups, the organizations and the countries which support them did not commit to Annan's plan and commit dozens of violations every day. not to mention murdering more than 300 army and law-enforcement members since the halt of violence came into effect on April 12th, 2012 to date which indicates those sides' non-commitment to implementing Annan's plan, the UNSC resolutions or the initial understanding between the UN and Syria, Syria will continue providing support to the observer mission and enable them to fulfill their mission successfully," the Ministry said.

The letters concluded that "Despite all these destructive terrorist crimes, Syria will move forward to combat terrorism and defend its people and sovereignty and preserve security and stability in it."

R. Raslan/ M. Ismael