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Tom Miles, CSM/Reuters: UN: IS strongholds in Syria could fall by October
The United Nations' envoy to Syria said parts of the country could be liberated from Islamic State control by October, and that the push for free elections should be a priority in the coming year.
Islamic State's remaining Syrian strongholds are likely to fall by the end of October, which must be the trigger for the international community to push for free and fair elections, United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Friday.
"What we are seeing is in my opinion the beginning of the end of this war… what we need to make sure is that this becomes also the beginning of peace. And that is where the challenge starts at this very moment," he said in a BBC radio interview.
Three places were still far from stabilized, Mr. de Mistura said: Raqqa, Deir al-Zor and Idlib.
“After Raqqa and Deir al-Zor, and that is a matter of a few months, there will be a moment of truth. If the international community will be helping both the opposition and the government by pushing the government to accept a real negotiation, then within a year it would be a possibility of having a truly credible election.”
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WNU Editor: United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura believes that if the remaining Islamic State strongholds do fall in the coming months, there will be a very good chance for free and fair elections in Syria by next year. My prediction .... free and fair elections are not going to happen for a very long time.
