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    February 14, 2012

UN Official Says 'Crimes Against Humanity' Evident in Syria

   VOA News

   Syrian rights activists say government forces have assaulted the
   flashpoint city of Homs with heavy shelling, a day after the U.N. human
   rights chief said the Security Council's failure to act has
   "emboldened" President Bashar al-Assad's government.
   In a speech to the U.N. General Assembly Monday, High Commissioner for
   Human Rights Navi Pillay said the scale of abuses by pro-Assad forces
   indicates "crimes against humanity" have happened since last March and
   are continuing.
   "I am particularly appalled by the ongoing onslaught on Homs. Since 3rd
   February, in further escalation of its assault, the government has used
   tanks, mortars, rockets and artillery to pummel the city of Homs," said
   Pillay.
   Hundreds of people have been reported killed in Homs since the
   government began bombarding rebel-held districts.
   Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari rejected Pillay's allegations
   and reiterated his country's right to "protect its citizens" and
   "combat terrorism." He also accused U.N. member states of supporting
   al-Qaida and sending terrorists to Syria.
   Syrian officials have blamed "armed terrorists" for the 11-month
   uprising against Mr. Assad.
   China's ambassador to Syria met Monday with Arab League
   Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby for what the Chinese Foreign Ministry
   called "frank and useful" talks about the situation in Syria.
   Li Huaxin told reporters in Cairo that China is calling on all parties
   to immediately stop the violence.
   "We are not trying to oppose or defend either side. All we are trying
   to do is find the best interest for the sake of the Syrian people," he
   said.
   Li said China is not taking sides, but rather seeking the best for the
   Syrian people.
   China and Russia vetoed a Western- and Arab-backed resolution on Syria
   earlier this month. It would have endorsed an Arab League plan for Mr.
   Assad to hand power to a deputy and allow the formation of a unity
   government to prepare for democratic elections.
   The Obama administration said Monday it is in talks with international
   partners about the Arab League's latest proposal to deploy a joint
   Arab-U.N. peacekeeping force in Syria.
   White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Washington is considering
   how a peacekeeping force would work, but believes any such mission must
   start with a situation of "peace to keep." Carney said there is no
   peace in Syria while its government perpetrates what he called
   "disgusting" acts of violence against its own people.
   Damascus has rejected the Arab peacekeeping idea, saying it reflects
   the "hysteria" of Arab governments who have failed to achieve a
   Security Council resolution authorizing foreign intervention in Syria.
   Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday his government also
   is studying the Arab proposal, which would require approval by the U.N.
   Security Council, where Moscow holds veto power. He said a cease-fire
   must take hold in Syria before foreign peacekeepers could be deployed.
   Lavrov also said Russia wants the Arab League to clarify some portions
   of the initiative.
   U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington also will work
   with its allies to ease a growing humanitarian crisis in Syria and
   ensure the delivery of emergency supplies to the Syrian people. She was
   speaking at a joint news conference with her visiting Turkish
   counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.
   The United Nations said last month that violence linked to the uprising
   had killed more than 5,400 people. U.N. officials stopped updating the
   death toll in January, saying it was too difficult to obtain
   information. Rights groups say hundreds more people have been killed
   since then.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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