China calls on all sides to end Syria violence

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China calls on all sides to end Syria violence

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China hopes referendum on a new constitution and parliamentary elections pass off calmly.

18 February,2012 02:19 pm

Chinas visiting envoy to Syria has urged all sides in the country to end violence, after holding talks with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.Syrian TV quoted Zhai Jun as saying he backed the Syrian governments plan for a referendum on the constitution and subsequent elections.The opposition says it cannot accept a referendum during continuing violence.It said government forces on Saturday renewed their bombardment of opposition positions in the city of Homs.Syrian TV quoted Mr Zhai as saying: The position of China is to call on the government, the opposition and the rebels to halt acts of violence immediately.We hope that the referendum on a new constitution as well as the forthcoming parliamentary elections pass off calmly.Mr Zhai said he hoped calm [can] be restored as quickly as possibly, as that serves the interests of the Syrian people.The opposition has called for a boycott of the 26 February referendum.One key group, the National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, said it was impossible for us to take part in this referendum before a stop to the violence and killings.