Syria Rebels Say Resuming 'Defensive Operations'

The rebel Free Syrian Army on Friday announced it was resuming "defensive operations" after the expiry of its ultimatum for the regime to respect international envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan.

"We will now resume defensive operations," FSA spokesman Qassem Saadeddine told Agence France Presse via Skype. "We will not go on the offensive because we do not want to be singled out as the ones responsible for breaking the peace initiative."

The decision came 48 hours after the FSA's military council from inside Syria gave the regime until Friday 0900 GMT to observe the Annan plan which calls for the withdrawal of government forces and heavy armor from towns and cities.

"We have tried to remain committed to the plan but it is our military and ethical duty to defend civilians," Saadeddine said.

"The Annan plan has failed," he said. "The ball has been in the regime and international community's court from the start, and the initiative was a failure from the day it was signed."