Al Arabiya, 23 Oct 2012 – Warplanes raided a district of the northern city of Aleppo as fighting across Syria kept up unabated on Tuesday, despite hopes of a ceasefire for later this week, a watchdog said, as the Security Council is scheduled to hold a meeting on Tuesday over the Syrian crisis.

As many as 42 people have been killed by the fire of Syrian forces across the country on Tuesday, Al Arabiya reported citing activists at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The latest violence comes three days ahead of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha, during which peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has proposed a ceasefire.
In Syria’s second city Aleppo, a rebel was killed in fighting, which was taking place in several districts, while planes bombed the Katergi quarter, the Observatory said.

In the Damascus provincial town of Harasta, at least two rebels were killed, the Britain-based group said.

In the capital itself, security forces carried out searches in the Zahira quarter, where gunfire could be heard. Overnight, one man was killed in a bomb attack on the southeastern outskirts of Damascus.

The Observatory also reported fighting in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor and in Deraa, southern Syria.

“Neither the rebels nor the regime appear to want a ceasefire, and the daily death toll continues to exceed 100,” Observatory chief Rami Abdul Rahman told AFP.

More than 34,000 people have been killed in the rebellion, which began in March 2011, according to the Observatory.

Meanwhile, members of the Security Council are expected to condemn “in the strongest terms” the recent terrorist attack that hit Damascus on Oct. 21, causing numerous deaths and injuries among civilians.

The Security Council will hold a meeting later Tuesday to discuss three press statements, requested by Russia, on Syria and Libya.

According to the press statements, obtained by Al Arabiya, the Security Council members will express their “deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the families of the victims” in Syria.

The members of the Security Council will reaffirm that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,” and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council will reiterate their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

The members of the Security Council will, meanwhile, welcome the important and timely initiative of U.N.-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi for a ceasefire and a cessation of violence in all its forms during the period of Eid Al Adha.

The Council members will call on Damascus and all opposition groups to “respond positively to the initiative” of Brahimi as a first step towards the sustainable cessation of hostilities and the launch of a political process leading to a democratic change in Syria in the interests of all its citizens.