This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-15834540

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Syria: UN human rights panel hears resolution proposal Syria: UN human rights committee condemns crackdown
(about 4 hours later)
Britain, France and Germany are asking the United Nations to pass a resolution condemning Syrian violence against opposition protesters. The United Nations human rights committee has passed a resolution condemning Syria's crackdown on opposition protests.
Tuesday's vote in the human rights committee of the General Assembly would carry moral but not legal weight. It also called on Damascus to implement an Arab League plan to end the violence.
Meanwhile, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Syria's president to step down to avoid further bloodshed. The resolution, drafted by Britain, France and Germany, carries moral but not legal weight.
The call came as Syrian activists said four children were killed on Tuesday by shots fired from a military checkpoint. The move comes as Syrian activists said another 22 people, including five children, had been killed across Syria.
The vote on the resolution is due to take place at the UN in New York between 10:00 and 13:00 local time (15:00-18:00 GMT). The European nations hope this will be a first step to bringing the issue back to the UN Security Council. Earlier, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down to avoid further bloodshed.
A previous attempt to pass a resolution in the security council was vetoed by Russia and China. The vote took place at the UN in New York. The three nations who drafted the resolution hope it will be a first step to bringing the issue back to the UN Security Council.
The latest resolution has no mention of sanctions, instead calling on the Syrian government to end all human rights violations and condemning systematic abuses. It calls on Syria to implement the Arab League plan to end the violence. 'Diplomatic war'
Syria's ambassador to the UN, accused the Europeans of declaring "diplomatic war" on his country. The latest resolution says the committee "strongly condemns the continued grave and systematic human rights violations by the Syrian authorities, such as arbitrary executions, excessive use of force and the persecution and killing of protesters and human rights defenders".
'Leave that seat' But it makes no mention of sanctions.
Meanwhile, in his harshest words yet on the issue, Prime Minister Erdogan called for Bashar al-Assad to step down as Syrian president. It was backed by Western nations and a number of Arab member states. The resolution received 122 votes in favour, 13 against and 41 abstentions.
Arab states that voted for it included co-sponsors Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as well as Egypt.
A previous attempt to pass a resolution in the Security Council was vetoed by Russia and China. The two countries abstained in the latest vote.
Syria's ambassador to the UN has accused the Europeans of declaring "diplomatic war" on his country.
In his harshest words yet on the issue, Prime Minister Erdogan called for Mr Assad to step down as Syrian president.
It was the first time the Turkish leader had directly called for his removal from power. Last week King Abdullah of Jordan became the first regional leader to call on Mr Assad to go.It was the first time the Turkish leader had directly called for his removal from power. Last week King Abdullah of Jordan became the first regional leader to call on Mr Assad to go.
"For the welfare of your own people and the region, just leave that seat," Mr Erdogan said in a televised speech."For the welfare of your own people and the region, just leave that seat," Mr Erdogan said in a televised speech.
"If you want to see someone who has fought until death against his own people, just look at Nazi Germany, just look at Hitler, at Mussolini, at Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania," he said.
"If you cannot draw any lessons from these, then look at the Libyan leader who was killed just 32 days ago."
His comments came a day after Turkish President Abdullah Gul, speaking to the BBC, said the Syrian regime had reached a "dead end" and it was prepared for the worst-case scenario.His comments came a day after Turkish President Abdullah Gul, speaking to the BBC, said the Syrian regime had reached a "dead end" and it was prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Turkey has allowed Syrian refugees and military defectors to take refuge on its soil, and Syria's political opposition has used Turkey as a place to meet and organise.Turkey has allowed Syrian refugees and military defectors to take refuge on its soil, and Syria's political opposition has used Turkey as a place to meet and organise.
The UN estimates that more than 3,500 people have died since the start of the protests against Mr Assad in March.The UN estimates that more than 3,500 people have died since the start of the protests against Mr Assad in March.
The Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs and militants.The Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs and militants.
In the latest violence, the Local Coordination Committees, an activist network, said four children, between the ages of 10 and 15, were killed by gunshots fired at random from a military checkpoint near the town of Houla, in the restive Homs province. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported two teenagers and one child shot dead in the same incident. In the latest violence, the Local Coordination Committees, an activist network, said five children died in restive Homs province.
The LCC also reported five other people killed, one in Homs and four others in Hama. Confirming the deaths, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four boys - aged 10, 11, 13 and 15 - were "indiscriminately" gunned down in the Houla area, while a fifth - aged six - died in Homs city.
The LCC said Syrian forces backed by tanks and armoured vehicles stormed the area of Houla and were besieging the district of Bayada in Homs, a hotbed of dissent against President Assad's regime. The LCC also reported 11 other people killed, seven in Hama and four in Idlib.
On Monday, at least 20 people died including two women and a child, with the highest number of deaths near Homs, activists from the LCC said in a statement. Earlier, the LCC said Syrian forces backed by tanks and armoured vehicles stormed the area of Houla and were besieging the district of Bayada in Homs, a hotbed of dissent against President Assad's regime.