Violence escalating as UN puts death toll at 5,000
UN rights chief briefs Security Council. Concern is mounting after deadline expires in Homs. Clashes between soldiers and defectors continue. Government sources speak of “mass participation” in local elections; opposition claims turnout did not exceed 10 per cent.
Beirut (AsiaNews) – More than 5,000 people are now believed to have been killed in the Syrian government's crackdown on protests, the United Nations said. Meanwhile, fears are growing about what Syrian authorities might do in the city of Homs after the deadline set for an end to the unrest expired yesterday. All this is happening against a background of government-sponsored local elections and a general strike proclaimed by opposition groups.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that 300 children have been killed since unrest began in March. In her brief to the Security Council, she also said that more than 14,000 people are estimated to have been detained and at least 12,400 have fled into neighbouring countries.
Pillay noted that the last time she briefed the council on Syria, in August, the death toll was at about 2,000.
To these must be added about a thousand soldiers and members of the Syrian Security Forces who have been killed according to official Syrian sources.
A growing number of soldiers are deserting to join the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and fight government forces. Many now fear a full-blown civil war.
Reports have come in saying that army troops have stormed the town of Basrah al-Harir and Lujah, located approximately 40 km north of the Jordanian border yesterday.
In view of the fighting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western governments of taking an “immoral” position, a term used by French UN Ambassador Gerard Araud against Russia for blocking since October the Security Council from moving against Syria.
The exchange of accusations comes after French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said on Sunday that there were good reasons to think that Syria was behind the attack against UN troops in southern Lebanon.
There have been contradictory reports in relation to local elections and the opposition’s general strike.
SANA, Syria’s official news agency, said that Syrians voted “Within an atmosphere of democracy and mass popular participation”. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that turnout did not exceed 10 per cent and that ballots were burnt.
On the general strike, reports range from everything “normal” in Damascus to soldiers forcing stores to open. (PD)
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that 300 children have been killed since unrest began in March. In her brief to the Security Council, she also said that more than 14,000 people are estimated to have been detained and at least 12,400 have fled into neighbouring countries.
Pillay noted that the last time she briefed the council on Syria, in August, the death toll was at about 2,000.
To these must be added about a thousand soldiers and members of the Syrian Security Forces who have been killed according to official Syrian sources.
A growing number of soldiers are deserting to join the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and fight government forces. Many now fear a full-blown civil war.
Reports have come in saying that army troops have stormed the town of Basrah al-Harir and Lujah, located approximately 40 km north of the Jordanian border yesterday.
In view of the fighting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western governments of taking an “immoral” position, a term used by French UN Ambassador Gerard Araud against Russia for blocking since October the Security Council from moving against Syria.
The exchange of accusations comes after French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said on Sunday that there were good reasons to think that Syria was behind the attack against UN troops in southern Lebanon.
There have been contradictory reports in relation to local elections and the opposition’s general strike.
SANA, Syria’s official news agency, said that Syrians voted “Within an atmosphere of democracy and mass popular participation”. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that turnout did not exceed 10 per cent and that ballots were burnt.
On the general strike, reports range from everything “normal” in Damascus to soldiers forcing stores to open. (PD)
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