Violence continues in Syria with death tolls reaching 40,000

Thirty people were killed in Syria on Wednesday Damascus - Agencies Thirty people were killed in Syria on Wednesday, according to Shaam News Network (SNN) with most of the deaths occurring in Rural Damascus and Aleppo. Five of the 30 were Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters who were killed in clashes with regime forces in the battle of Tishrin Dam. United Nations- Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warned that the country is “slipping into failed statehood similar to Somalia.” In an interview with Sky News, he said that there was “awareness among all parties of the seriousness of the situation and the way it affects the whole region,” stressing the need to “move from awareness to formulating a plan that all parties accept and cooperate to implement.” The peace envoy dismissed the possibility that either party can achieve a decisive military victory, adding that they should therefore transfer their attention to a peaceful resolution. “There is no choice other than peaceful resolution,” Brahimi said. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon also expressed his concerns saying that “the continued militarisation of the conflict” would turn Syria into a “regional battleground.” The UN chief urged the international family to support Brahimi’s efforts for "an inclusive Syrian led political transition that will address the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people." At least 40,000 people have been killed in violence across Syria since the outbreak of an anti-regime revolt in March last year, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights have said. Regime forces renewed intense bombardment of the southern districts of the capital Damascus and the nearby suburb of Daria. The regime army is laying siege into the town in another attempt to enter it. According to SNN, al-Assad’s forces shelled southern Damascus by heavy artillery and tanks as explosions rocked the area. Recent clashes have also been occurring between the FSA near the Naireb and Ming military airports in Aleppo. Parts of Homs, rural Latakia, Dara and Deir Ezzor were subjected to artillery and aerial bombardment Additional reports have stated that four high-ranking army officers have fled to Turkey after breaking away from the Syrian army and are now claiming asylum in the country.