The content has not yet been announced. Immediate ceasefire and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to protect the wounded in question. Assad announces parliamentary elections for next May 7. Borders with Turkey and Lebanon mined.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Syrian President Bashar al - Assad, last night sent his response to the proposals of Kofi Annan, UN envoy, on an immediate ceasefire and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to help the population, according to internal United Nations sources. The content of the message is still secret and is under the scrutiny of experts. Yesterday, the Syrian president announced the first parliamentary elections for May 7 after the constitutional referendum last February 26.

Meanwhile, the army has intensified its offensive against the province of Idlib, on the border with Turkey, where 50 people were killed yesterday. Bombings and clashes between Free Syrian Army and the military were also reported in Homs and other cities in the provinces of Aleppo and Damascus. In total in one day there were more than 100 deaths among insurgents, civilians and military.

According to the UN, in over a year of violence 8 thousand people have died, while 230 thousand have fled the country. Human Rights Watch researchers have accused the regime of having mined the borders with Turkey and Lebanon to prevent the rebels leaving the country.

• syria
• un
• assad
• annan
• violence
• idlib
• homs
• free
• syrian
• army
• humanitarian
• crisis