Lt. General Babacar Gaye conducted his first field visit as the Head of the UN Supervision Mission ad interim. He went to Homs and ar-Rastan to assess the situation related to violence and the use of heavy weapons. He met with the Governor and members of the Free Syrian Army to try to gage their readiness for local engagement and dialogue.
During his visit to Homs, he was witnessed heavy shelling, from artillery and mortars, ongoing in the neighbourhoods of the city Ar-Rastan was heavily damaged by an intensive shelling campaign and fierce fighting. There were damaged tanks left on the side of the streets; public infrastructure, such as bridges, was destroyed; and homes on the main roads inside the town were largely damaged. There were families, women and children in some inner neighbourhoods of the town, in addition to a few shops open, selling food.
Shot list
00: Going through a check point in Homs
04: The general at an Observation Post being briefed about the shelling in Homs.
30: on the way to meet the new Governor of Homs Ahmad Munir Mohammed.
36: The Governor greet General Gaye.
44: wide shot of the General and his aids and the Governor and his aids at the table with Spokesperson Sausan Ghosheh as interpreter.
01:01: General Gaye talks to the Syrian TV.
01:43 General Gaye in a town hall meeting with UNSMIS observers in Homs.
02:00 UN vehicles wait for the withdrawal of a tank from the section of the highway leading to the town of Al Rastan with Syrian Army soldiers nearby.
02:17 UN vehicles travel on the damaged section of the highway leading to Al Rastan ( located between Homs and Hams and Edlib). Empty tank shells on the road. a destroyed tank,
02:44 a sign in Arabic ( Al Rastan welcomes you)
02:48 a fly -over on the highway which leads to Al Rastan was destroyed by the Free Syrian Army to create an obstacle against the tanks. There is a destroyed tank there.
03:02 the streets of Al Rastan
03:21 General Gaye met by Colonel Qassem Saad Eddine the poksperson of the Free Syrian Army Joint Command. ( he says after the UN observers come the Syrian Army shells the location)
03:30 UNSMIS Spokesperson says the situation here seems very difficult.
03:32 Colonel Saad Eddine says : Yes destruction, everyday 200 -- 300 shells and rockets 03:47 Colonel Saad Eddine and his officers of the FSA receives General Guy and his team in his office.
