Russia nixes Syria action

Even as UN reports new killings:

SYRIA: Russia insisted Wednesday that new action against its ally Syria would be premature, amid Western calls for increased pressure on the regime as the death toll rises.

UN under secretary general Herve Ladsous gave the UN Security Council a “sombre” account of both the latest killings in the eastern town of Assukar -- 13 people killed execution-style -- and of last week's massacre near the central town of Houla in which more than 100 people died.

The United States, France, Britain and Germany all came out of a UN Security Council meeting on the worsening crisis urging measures up to sanctions by the 15-nation body.

All governments are increasingly concerned as the Syria death toll piles up and UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan left Damascus this week with no apparent concessions from President Bashar al-Assad.

The UN observer mission chief in Syria, Major General Robert Mood, said he was “deeply disturbed” by the latest killings in Assukar, calling it an “appalling and inexcusable act.” “Thirteen bodies were discovered last night (Tuesday) in the area of Assukar, 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Deir Ezzor,” the veteran Norwegian peacekeeper said.

“All the bodies had their hands tied behind their backs and some appear to have been shot in the head from a short distance,” he added.

The bodies were found days after UN observers counted the bodies of at least 108 civilians near Houla.

Among them were 49 children and 34 women. Some were blown to bits by artillery and tank fire but most were summarily executed, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

US ambassador Susan Rice told reporters at the United Nations that prospects for a political solution in Syria were now almost non-existent, and that the Security Council must discuss new action. AFP