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Syria crisis: Red Crescent official in Idlib shot dead Syria crisis: Red Crescent official in Idlib shot dead
(about 1 hour later)
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent says its vice president, Abdulrazak Jbeiro, has been shot dead. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent says its vice-president, Abdulrazak Jbeiro, has been shot dead.
The Red Crescent said he was killed as he drove from Damascus to Idlib - a focal point of the Syrian conflict. It condemned the killing.The Red Crescent said he was killed as he drove from Damascus to Idlib - a focal point of the Syrian conflict. It condemned the killing.
Anti-government activists the Local Co-ordination Committees blamed his death on "security forces". Across Syria, at least seven people were killed on Wednesday, said activists.
But Syrian state news agency Sana pointed the finger at "a terrorist group". The Syrian army is reported to be on the second day of an offensive against insurgents in the central city of Hama.
"We just learned a few minutes ago" of Jbeiro's death, Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) operations for the Near and Middle East, told Reuters news agency. The Syrian regime blames "terrorist gangs" - part of an international conspiracy against Syria - for unrest that has swept the country since mid-March 2011.
"He was shot. Circumstances are still unclear. The UN says more than 5,000 people have died.
'Severe condemnation'
"[Mr Jbeiro] was shot. Circumstances are still unclear," Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) operations for the Near and Middle East, told Reuters news agency.
"Regardless of the circumstances, the ICRC condemns this very severely," she added."Regardless of the circumstances, the ICRC condemns this very severely," she added.
"The lack of respect for medical services is still a great issue in Syria.""The lack of respect for medical services is still a great issue in Syria."
As well as being vice president, Dr Jbeiro was the head official in the northern city of Idlib. Anti-government activists the Local Co-ordination Committees blamed his death on "security forces", while Syrian state news agency Sana pointed the finger at "a terrorist group".
Sana said the shooting occurred in the Khan Shiekoun area.Sana said the shooting occurred in the Khan Shiekoun area.
"The group opened fire with a machine-gun, hitting him in the head. He was taken to hospital where he died," Sana reported, according to news agency AFP."The group opened fire with a machine-gun, hitting him in the head. He was taken to hospital where he died," Sana reported, according to news agency AFP.
The Syrian regime blames "terrorist gangs" - part of an international conspiracy against Syria - for unrest that has swept the country since mid-March. As well as being vice-president, Dr Jbeiro was the head official in the northern city of Idlib.
The UN says more than 5,000 people have died. In addition to Mr Jbeiro, at least seven Syrians died on Wednesday, the LCC said - three in Damascus.
In Homs, a woman and her five-year-old child died when a shell hit their home during clashes between troops and men believed to be defecting soldiers.
Russian opposition
In Hama, at least two people died on the second day of a government bombardment, LCC said.
As the fighting in Syria continues, diplomats at the UN say European and Arab nations are meeting to try to draft a new UN resolution to address the crisis.
A previous attempt was stymied by Russia and China, and on Wednesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he was open to "constructive proposals" to end the violence.
But he reiterated his opposition to the use of force or sanctions.