Queen’s University Middle East expert Houchang Hassan-Yari is available to comment on the apparent voiding of the Syria ceasefire deadline as fighting spilled over into Turkey. Under a deal brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, Syria is to begin withdrawing troops Tuesday.

“The logical consequence of any political solution to the Syrian crisis would result in the loss of power by Bashar Asad,” says Dr. Hassan-Yari. “Since he does not want to lose power, he uses the peace plan of Kofi Anan to save time and militarily crush his opponents.”

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