Condemnation of Syria’s crackdown mounts
FRANCE: International condemnation of Syria mounted yesterday after
its security forces reportedly killed more than 80 people in one of the
bloodiest days of a month-long uprising. The EU, Russia, Germany, Greece
and Italy joined the chorus of critics which includes US President
Barack Obama and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, while France increased pressure.
Russia, the first of Syria’s allies to speak out, urged Damascus to
accelerate political reforms, saying Moscow was “concerned by the
heightening of tensions and signs of a confrontation that is leading to
the suffering of innocent people.”
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Two Syrian lawmakers resign
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IEAN: Two
Syrian lawmakers have reportedly resigned from their posts in
parliament in protest at the deadly unrest across the country.
The lawmakers, named Khalil al-Rifai and Nasser al-Hariri’s
announced their resignation bid on Saturday, AFP reported.
Rifai said he could not “protect the people who brought me to
parliament.”
Since mid-March, Syria has been struggling with protests that
have left scores of people, including security forces, dead.
Syrian authorities blame armed groups and foreign elements for
the violence.
The tension comes despite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s
recent introduction of a new package of reforms, which he has
said would meet the demands of the protesters.
Assad has also granted amnesty for all those detained during the
recent protests, aside from those who Damascus says have
committed criminal acts against the homeland and its citizens.
Earlier in the month, Lebanese security forces intercepted two
vehicles carrying weapons and ammunitions to Syria.
The Syrian interior ministry has pledged to suppress the ‘armed
revolt’ undermining security in the country.
“The latest incidents have shown that... armed Salafist groups,
particularly in the [western] cities of Homs and Banias, have
openly called for armed revolt,” the ministry said.
The term Salafists refers to the Saudi Arabians, who practice
Wahhabism an extremely intolerant interpretation of Islam. Press
TV |
A foreign ministry statement said Russia viewed Syria as its “friend”
but added: “We are firmly convinced that only constructive dialogue and
accelerated broad-scale political, social and economic reforms outlined
by the Syrian leadership can achieve stable and democratic development.”
Moscow urged all sides “to suspend violence and continue searching
for fair solutions to existing problems.”
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned the
violence as “appalling and intolerable” and called for “profound
political reforms.
“It is essential that these reforms begin now and follow a concrete
timetable,” she added.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the violence against
peaceful demonstrators was “unacceptable”.
“The German government condemns it in the strongest terms,” he said
in a statement calling for a probe of Friday’s crackdown on thousands of
protesters who rallied in cities across Syria, chanting “freedom,
freedom,” and calling for the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Activists said the death toll could top 100.
Assad had issued decrees Thursday scrapping decades of emergency
rule, abolishing the state security court and allowing citizens to hold
peaceful demonstrations.
But witnesses said snipers and security forces killed at least 13
mourners at funerals of the victims on Saturday.
“The right to demonstrate peacefully must be respected. We urge all
sides to show calm and moderation and we issue a sincere call to the
Syrian authorities to implement promised reforms rapidly,” an Italian
foreign ministry statement said.
Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said: “the right of assembly
and free expression are basic elements of democracy” in a statement
calling for restraint.
France issued its second condemnation of the Assad regime’s actions
in less than 24 hours, with Foreign Minister Alain Juppe saying “the
officials responsible for these crimes and those who carried them out
must answer to their actions.”
Paris, Sunday, AFP |
