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Houla massacre 'may be crime against humanity' UN calls for investigation into Houla killings in Syria
(about 3 hours later)
Last week's killing of more than 100 civilians at Houla in Syria may amount to crimes against humanity, the UN high commissioner for human rights has said. The UN Human Rights Council has called for an investigation into the killing of more than 100 civilians at Houla, and condemned Syria for the massacre.
Navi Pillay urged the international community to "make all efforts to end impunity" and "ensure accountability for perpetrators" of such "atrocities". The forum passed the resolution with a big majority and wants investigators to identify the perpetrators.
Ms Pillay was addressing an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council. Evidence could potentially be used in future criminal prosecutions.
Earlier, opposition activists said there had been another mass killing of civilians by pro-government militiamen. Earlier the UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, said the killings in Houla may amount to crimes against humanity.
She urged the international community to "make all efforts to end impunity" and "ensure accountability for perpetrators" of such "atrocities".
Meanwhile opposition activists said there had been another mass killing of civilians by pro-government militiamen.
Thirteen factory workers were forced off a bus and executed by "shabiha" - the name given to these armed regime supporters - on Thursday in al-Buwaida al-Sharqiya, near the western town of Qusair, they said.Thirteen factory workers were forced off a bus and executed by "shabiha" - the name given to these armed regime supporters - on Thursday in al-Buwaida al-Sharqiya, near the western town of Qusair, they said.
Several videos posted online showed bodies with severe wounds to the head and stomach, consistent with being shot at close range.Several videos posted online showed bodies with severe wounds to the head and stomach, consistent with being shot at close range.
The activists' account cannot be independently verified, but twice in the past week UN observers on the ground have corroborated similar claims.The activists' account cannot be independently verified, but twice in the past week UN observers on the ground have corroborated similar claims.
Individuals 'criminally liable'Individuals 'criminally liable'
On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council, the world's top human rights body, began meeting in emergency session to discuss the violence in Syria - the fourth time it has done so since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011. The UN Human Rights Council, the world's top human rights body, met on Friday in emergency session - the fourth time it has done so to discuss Syria since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.
The 47-member council is expected to condemn in the strongest possible terms the massacre in the Houla area of Homs province. In the vote, 41 members voted in favour of the US backed resolution condemning Syria, while Russia, China and Cuba voted against it. Two other countries abstained and one was absent.
Residents of the village of Taldou, in Houla, said shabiha had been sent in early on Saturday after the Syrian army unleashed a barrage of heavy weapons late on Friday in response to a local anti-government protest. The resolution also specifies that there should be an "international, transparent, independent and prompt investigation" into what happened and echoes calls from Navi Pillay for the UN Security Council to consider referring Syria to the International Criminal Court.
Navi Pillay's office reported on Tuesday that UN investigators had found most of the 108 victims had been shot at close range or stabbed. No more than 20 had been killed by tank and artillery fire, it added. Residents of the village of Taldou, in Houla, said militiamen had been sent in early on Saturday after the Syrian army unleashed a barrage of heavy weapons late on Friday in response to a local anti-government protest.
Ms Pillay's office reported on Tuesday that UN investigators had found most of the 108 victims had been shot at close range or stabbed. No more than 20 had been killed by tank and artillery fire, it added.
"These acts may amount to crimes against humanity and other international crimes, and may be indicative of a pattern of widespread or systematic attacks against civilian populations that have been perpetrated with impunity," Ms Pillay said, in a speech to the council read out by a representative."These acts may amount to crimes against humanity and other international crimes, and may be indicative of a pattern of widespread or systematic attacks against civilian populations that have been perpetrated with impunity," Ms Pillay said, in a speech to the council read out by a representative.
She called on the council to "ensure accountability for perpetrators" and urged the Syrian government to protect civilians.She called on the council to "ensure accountability for perpetrators" and urged the Syrian government to protect civilians.
Those who ordered attacks were "individually criminally liable", Ms Pillay said.Those who ordered attacks were "individually criminally liable", Ms Pillay said.
"Once again, I urge the [UN] Security Council to consider referring the case of Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC)."
The UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, said he was frustrated at the continued violence despite the acceptance by all sides of his six-point peace plan, under which a ceasefire came into force in April.The UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, said he was frustrated at the continued violence despite the acceptance by all sides of his six-point peace plan, under which a ceasefire came into force in April.
On Thursday, a Syrian government investigation into the Houla massacre blamed armed rebel groups seeking to trigger foreign military intervention.On Thursday, a Syrian government investigation into the Houla massacre blamed armed rebel groups seeking to trigger foreign military intervention.
The US permanent representative to the UN, Susan Rice, dismissed the finding as a "blatant lie".The US permanent representative to the UN, Susan Rice, dismissed the finding as a "blatant lie".
A resolution before the Human Rights Council condemns "the wanton killings of civilians by shooting at close range and by severe physical abuse by pro-regime elements and a series of government artillery and tank shellings of a residential neighbourhood", and demands that Syria allow in human rights investigators and aid agencies immediately.
But there is no call in the draft resolution for Syria to be referred to the ICC, despite pressure from European countries, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva.
Russia and China oppose the move, as does the US, which believes only the Security Council should make such a move, our correspondent adds.Russia and China oppose the move, as does the US, which believes only the Security Council should make such a move, our correspondent adds.
Syria is not a state party to the ICC. The court therefore has no jurisdiction to indict its citizens without a Security Council referral.Syria is not a state party to the ICC. The court therefore has no jurisdiction to indict its citizens without a Security Council referral.
Syria's representative to the Human Rights Council attacked the resolution's sponsors, among them Turkey and Qatar, saying they bore responsibility for some of the deaths, because, he claimed, they had been supplying weapons to rebel groups.Syria's representative to the Human Rights Council attacked the resolution's sponsors, among them Turkey and Qatar, saying they bore responsibility for some of the deaths, because, he claimed, they had been supplying weapons to rebel groups.
"No rational person could believe what is being said by some of the sponsors of this session... it is truly despicable," Faisal al-Hamwi said."No rational person could believe what is being said by some of the sponsors of this session... it is truly despicable," Faisal al-Hamwi said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was not supporting any side in the conflict. And he denied that Russia was supplying Syria with arms "which can be used in a civilian conflict".Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was not supporting any side in the conflict. And he denied that Russia was supplying Syria with arms "which can be used in a civilian conflict".
Russia has blocked Security Council action against Syria's government.Russia has blocked Security Council action against Syria's government.
Earlier this week, Western diplomats and a human rights organisation reported that a Russian ship carrying arms docked at the Syrian port of Tartus.Earlier this week, Western diplomats and a human rights organisation reported that a Russian ship carrying arms docked at the Syrian port of Tartus.
Speaking in Oslo on Friday the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said she did not believe that Russia was neutral.
"We know there has been a very consistent arms trade, even during the past year, coming from Russia to Syria. We also believe the continuous supply of arms from Russia has strengthened the Assad regime," she told a news conference.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is meeting representatives of the Syrian opposition in Turkey.UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is meeting representatives of the Syrian opposition in Turkey.
Mr Hague told the BBC that the situation was so grave and deteriorating so rapidly that all options were still on the table.Mr Hague told the BBC that the situation was so grave and deteriorating so rapidly that all options were still on the table.