Two deadly explosions have hit the Syrian capital of Damascus killing dozens of people. The buildings struck housed the interior and intelligence services., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
29/05/2012
Syrian Embassy in Berlin
West & EU Countries expel Syrian Diplomats
(Omar al-Shaar | Dp-news)
Capitals
Syria faced a co-ordinated diplomatic backlash with a slew of developed nations expelling the leading senior representatives of the Damascus regime from their countries in response to the massacre of civilians in the Syrian village of Houla, that left over 100 people dead, including more than 30 children.
The US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Belgium and Australia all ordered Syrian diplomats to leave.
Australia was the first to expel the Syrian ambassador.
France's president, François Hollande, was the first European leader to announce the expulsion of the ambassador, describing it as "not a unilateral decision but in consultation with our partners".
Britain's decision was made public by William Hague, the foreign secretary, shortly afterwards.
Germany announced it was also expelling the Syrian envoy, and Spain and Italy did the same.
In turn, Victoria Nuland, the US state department spokeswoman, said Zuheir Jabbour, the chargé d’affaires had 72 hours to leave the country. “We hold the Syrian government responsible for this slaughter of innocent lives. This massacre is the most unambiguous indictment to date of the Syrian government’s flagrant violations of its UN Security Council obligations.”
She added: “We encourage all countries to condemn the actions of the Asad regime through similar action.”
Syria has flatly denied responsibility for the atrocity, calling it a "terrorist massacre".
Syria official news agency SANA said “These measures coincide with talks held between the UN special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, and the Syrian officials about the implementation of Annan's plan, which was considered by these countries which have taken the termination decision against Syrian diplomats as doomed to failure since the first day of its announcement.
SANA added “These termination measures also came in line with the escalation approched by these countries against Syria and the pressures and economic sanctions which they have imposed on the Syrian people.”
Press reports on Tuesday indicated that more capitals and other EU countries are expected to take similar action following the killings, which was described as a “hideous and brutal crime”.
It was not immediately clear why other members of EU had not joined in.
West & EU countries withdrew their ambassadors from Damascus and in effect closed their embassies in Syria`s capital Damascus on security grounds earlier this year. That meant there was little to lose by taking this punitive step. But its effect will be largely symbolic.
UN special envoy Kofi Annan met Syria`s President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, attempting to enforce a ceasefire that was agreed to in April.
But international action stronger than the ceasefire has so far been vetoed by China and Russia.
Annan has been urging the Syrian government to take "bold steps" to signal its resolution to solve the 15-month crisis peacefully. He also called on "everyone with a gun" to lay down weapons to help create the right context for a credible political process.
"Our goal is to stop this suffering. It must end and it must end now," Annan said, adding that his six-point plan has to be implemented comprehensively. "And this is not happening."
Syria’s government blamed the Houla massacre, along with all violence in country, on Islamist militants, while the Global body suggested government forces played a role.
Violence has been keeping reported in different Syrian cities since uprising started March 2011 asking to topple President Bashar al-Assad`s government.
Most Houla massacre victims executed: UN
Wed May 30, 2012 2:15AM GMT
presstv.ir
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has said that most of the civilian victims of last week’s massacre in the Syrian town of Houla were executed.
On Tuesday, OHCHR Spokesman Rupert Colville said in Geneva that most of the victims in Taldo, an area of Houla, “were summarily executed in two separate incidents," AFP reported.
"What is very clear is that this was an absolutely abominable event that happened in Houla and at least a substantial part of it was summary executions of civilians, including women and children," said Colville, adding that the victims “were shot in their houses.”
His comments echo those of the Syrian government, which blames armed terrorist groups for the murders.
Over 100 civilians were killed in a massacre in the western town of Houla on May 25.
After meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, joint UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan thanked the Syrian government for cooperating with international observers and referred to the Syrian government’s investigation into Friday’s attack as “very encouraging.”
During the meeting, Assad also called for an end to the terrorist activities in Syria, saying Annan’s peace plan will be successful if weapons smuggling and terrorism is contained.
On Sunday, May 27, the head of the UN observer mission in Syria, Major General Robert Mood, said during a briefing via videoconference to the UN Security Council that UN observers in Houla estimate that 108 people were killed, including 49 children and 34 women.
The UN Security Council condemned the violence in Houla during an emergency meeting on Sunday, saying the clashes “involved a series of government artillery and tank shelling on a residential neighborhood.”
However, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar Ja’afari censured the “tsunami of lies” by some members of the Security Council and said Syrian forces were not to blame for the violence.
The clashes between Syrian forces and armed groups broke out despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 12.
The ceasefire is part of a six-point peace plan presented by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan in March.
Syria cooperating with UN, Annan says
Tue May 29, 2012 10:58PM GMT
presstv.ir
Joint United Nations-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has praised the Syrian government for cooperating with international observers.
“In my meeting with the president, I expressed appreciation for the cooperation that the Syrian government had extended to the UN, enabling us to deploy the military observers quickly," Annan said during a press conference after meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.
Annan traveled to Syria on Tuesday, after over 100 civilians were killed in a massacre in the western town of Houla on May 25.
"The Security Council has made clear the need for these killings to be investigated and for those responsible to be held accountable," said Annan, adding, “I also note that the government of Syria is organizing its own investigation and that is very encouraging."
During the meeting, Assad also called for an end to the terrorist activities in Syria, saying Annan’s peace plan will be successful if weapons smuggling and terrorism is contained.
On Sunday, the head of the UN observer mission in Syria, Major General Robert Mood, said during a briefing via videoconference to the UN Security Council that UN observers in Houla estimate that 108 people were killed, including 49 children and 34 women.
The UN Security Council condemned the violence in Houla during an emergency meeting on Sunday, saying the clashes “involved a series of government artillery and tank shelling on a residential neighborhood.”
However, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar Ja’afari censured the “tsunami of lies” by some members of the Security Council and said Syrian forces were not to blame for the violence.
The clashes between Syrian forces and armed groups broke out despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 12.
The ceasefire is part of a six-point peace plan presented by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan in March.
No comments:
Post a Comment