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Syria massacre: UN Security Council meets over Houla Syria massacre: UN Security Council condemns Houla shelling
(34 minutes later)
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council has heard that 108 people were killed and 300 injured in the Syrian town of Houla on Friday. The UN Security Council has condemned the use of heavy weapons by Syria's government during a massacre in which 108 people were killed and 300 injured.
Some 34 children were killed in the massacre, which has sparked international outrage. Some 34 children were killed in Friday's massacre, which has sparked international outrage.
The Syrian government has denied any involvement, blaming "terrorists". The UN said those responsible for the killings must be held accountable.
The UK wants Russia, Syria's only major foreign ally, to put pressure on President Bashar al-Assad to halt civilian deaths. The Syrian government has denied any involvement, blaming "terrorists", and denied that its tanks were in the area at the time.
The closed meeting was called after Russia rejected a joint UK-French statement condemning the killings, diplomats say. The Security Council unanimously adopted the non-binding statement, which calls for the Syrian government to withdraw its heavy weaponry from residential areas and return them to barracks.
Russia was said to first want a briefing from the head of the UN observer mission in Syria, Maj Gen Robert Mood. "The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest possible terms the killings... in the village of (Houla), near Homs, in attacks that involved a series of government artillery and tank shellings on a residential neighbourhood," according to the statement read by Azerbaijan's deputy UN ambassador Tofig Musayev.
He told the Security Council via video link from Damascus that 108 people had been killed and 300 injured - up from a previous figure of at least 90 dead. "The members of the Security Council also condemned the killing of civilians by shooting at close range and by severe physical abuse," the statement continued.
He was initially quoted as saying the new figure was 116 dead, before this was corrected by diplomats. "Such outrageous use of force against civilian population constitutes a violation of applicable international law."
Opposition activists say the Syrian military bombarded Houla after demonstrations. They say that some of the victims were killed during the shelling, while others were shot dead at close range by the regime militia known as the "shabiha". Russia's role
Meanwhile, opposition activists say at least nine people were killed on Sunday when the army shelled the central city of Hama. These reports have not been verified.
'Vile testament'
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is travelling to Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, said Britain would lean on Russia to get Syria to implement the peace plan of UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
So far, there is no sign that Houla will be a game-changer. First, remember that this massacre will be interpreted differently around the world.So far, there is no sign that Houla will be a game-changer. First, remember that this massacre will be interpreted differently around the world.
Many countries sympathise with the Assad's government narrative that the opposition are Arab-backed Sunni fundamentalists and terrorists.Many countries sympathise with the Assad's government narrative that the opposition are Arab-backed Sunni fundamentalists and terrorists.
Just as some critics argue that the massacres in Libya last year and Racak, Kosovo, in 1999 are exaggerated or fabricated, similar scepticism about Houla will persist, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence - and that will affect how the UN Security Council lines up on the issue.Just as some critics argue that the massacres in Libya last year and Racak, Kosovo, in 1999 are exaggerated or fabricated, similar scepticism about Houla will persist, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence - and that will affect how the UN Security Council lines up on the issue.
Moreover, the growing role of al-Qaeda and affiliated jihadist groups in Syria has, in recent months, become a further deterrent to intervention.Moreover, the growing role of al-Qaeda and affiliated jihadist groups in Syria has, in recent months, become a further deterrent to intervention.
American officials are terrified that support for the opposition may end up in the hands of the very same people that mounted attacks on Western forces in Iraq just a few years ago.American officials are terrified that support for the opposition may end up in the hands of the very same people that mounted attacks on Western forces in Iraq just a few years ago.
Above all, however, no-one wants to pick a fight with Russia.Above all, however, no-one wants to pick a fight with Russia.
The emergency closed meeting was called after Russia rejected a joint UK-French statement condemning the killings, diplomats say.
Russia was said to first want a briefing from the head of the UN observer mission in Syria, Maj Gen Robert Mood.
He told the Security Council via video link from Damascus that 108 people had been killed and 300 injured - up from a previous figure of at least 90 dead.
He was initially quoted as saying the new figure was 116 dead, before this was corrected by diplomats.
Opposition activists say the Syrian military bombarded Houla after demonstrations. They say that some of the victims were killed during the shelling, while others were shot dead at close range by the regime militia known as the "shabiha".
Meanwhile, opposition activists say at least nine people were killed on Sunday when the army shelled the central city of Hama. These reports have not been verified.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is travelling to Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, said Britain would lean on Russia to get Syria to implement the peace plan of UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
"It's not in the interests of Russia, just as it's not in the interests of anybody in the world, for Syria to descend into an even bloodier situation and into full-scale civil war - and that is now the danger," he said."It's not in the interests of Russia, just as it's not in the interests of anybody in the world, for Syria to descend into an even bloodier situation and into full-scale civil war - and that is now the danger," he said.
Denial
Gen Mood told the BBC that "the circumstances leading to the killing are still unclear" but were being investigated by UN monitors in Houla.Gen Mood told the BBC that "the circumstances leading to the killing are still unclear" but were being investigated by UN monitors in Houla.
"I have had patrols on the ground all the day yesterday afternoon and today we are gathering facts on the ground and then we will draw our own conclusions," he said."I have had patrols on the ground all the day yesterday afternoon and today we are gathering facts on the ground and then we will draw our own conclusions," he said.
The UN mission head said that some of the dead had been killed by tank shells, while others had been shot at close range.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mr Annan have said the attack was a "flagrant violation of international law".
They said the crime involved "indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force" and violated commitments by Syria's government, which has pledged to stop shelling residential areas.
Russia's deputy ambassador to the United Nations told journalists that it was not clear who was responsible for the deaths - and denied charges that most of the deaths were caused by army shelling.Russia's deputy ambassador to the United Nations told journalists that it was not clear who was responsible for the deaths - and denied charges that most of the deaths were caused by army shelling.
"There are substantial grounds to believe that the majority of those who were killed were either slashed, cut by knives, or executed at point blank distance," he said."There are substantial grounds to believe that the majority of those who were killed were either slashed, cut by knives, or executed at point blank distance," he said.
Syria's foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said there was a clash in the area on Friday afternoon between security forces and armed terrorists. He said that army tanks had not been in the area.Syria's foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said there was a clash in the area on Friday afternoon between security forces and armed terrorists. He said that army tanks had not been in the area.
Meanwhile, a Syrian official has dismissed threats by the UK government to ban members of Syria's Olympic delegation linked to human rights abuses.Meanwhile, a Syrian official has dismissed threats by the UK government to ban members of Syria's Olympic delegation linked to human rights abuses.
The White House said it was horrified by the credible reports of the massacre.The White House said it was horrified by the credible reports of the massacre.
In April, Syria pledged to implement a six-point plan brokered by Mr Annan, including a ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from urban areas.In April, Syria pledged to implement a six-point plan brokered by Mr Annan, including a ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from urban areas.
Mr Annan is expected to visit Damascus on Monday to try to breathe life into the political process.Mr Annan is expected to visit Damascus on Monday to try to breathe life into the political process.
But the opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA) said it could no longer commit to the ceasefire unless the Security Council could ensure that civilians were protected.But the opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA) said it could no longer commit to the ceasefire unless the Security Council could ensure that civilians were protected.
In a statement, the FSA said that if urgent steps were not taken, then Mr Annan's plan was "going to hell".In a statement, the FSA said that if urgent steps were not taken, then Mr Annan's plan was "going to hell".
It said killings in Syria were taking place "under the eyes of the UN observers," and called on states to "announce the failure of the Annan plan".It said killings in Syria were taking place "under the eyes of the UN observers," and called on states to "announce the failure of the Annan plan".
The UN says that at least 10,000 people have been killed since the uprising against Mr Assad in April 2011.The UN says that at least 10,000 people have been killed since the uprising against Mr Assad in April 2011.