Damascus says UN envoy deviating from mission

A senior aide to President Bashar al-Assad today accused the UN's Syria envoy of deviating from his mission by focusing on aid deliveries.
Envoy Staffan de Mistura angered officials in Damascus yesterday when he said it was the government's "duty" to ensure aid access and that deliveries today would be a test for the government.
"His mission now is to establish a list of terrorist groups, and a list of opposition groups who should dialogue with the Syrian government," Buthaina Shaaban told AFP by telephone.
"Instead of that he was working on humanitarian aid, which is not really his mission because he is a facilitator. He should take care of what he is apt to do."

Shaaban also criticised De Mistura for not making it clear that the Syrian regime has cooperated in previous UN aid deliveries.
"We have a schedule, we are cooperating with the UN all the way along," she said. "We will not hesitate to ensure that aid reaches every Syrian citizen.