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Houla killings: UN blames Syria troops and militia Houla killings: UN blames Syria troops and militia
(about 4 hours later)
The UN has issued a damning 102-page report saying that Syrian government forces and Shabiha fighters have carried out numerous war crimes in the country including murder and torture. The UN has issued a damning 102-page report saying that Syrian government forces and Shabiha fighters have carried out numerous war crimes in the country including murder, torture and the massacre of 100 civilians, almost half of them children, near the town of Houla in May.
They are also blamed for the notorious massacre of 100 civilians, almost half of them children, near the town of Houla in May. The UN's independent international commission of inquiry said the violations were the result of "state policy". It claimed president Bashar al-Assad's "security forces and government" at the highest levels were involved in "gross violation of international human rights".
The UN's independent international commission of inquiry says the violations were the result of "state policy". It claims President Bashar al-Assad's "security forces and government" at the highest levels were involved in "gross violation of international human rights". The violations included "unlawful killing, indiscriminate attacks against civilian populations and acts of sexual violence," it said. The report painted a bleak picture of events on the ground in Syria, noting the situation inside the country has "deteriorated significantly" since February.
The violations include "unlawful killing, indiscriminate attacks against civilian populations and acts of sexual violence," it says. The report paints a bleak picture of events on the ground in Syria, noting the situation inside the country has "deteriorated significantly" since February. The commission, led by investigator Paulo Pinheiro, also reported that Syria's rebels were guilty of violations including murder, torture and extra-judicial killings. But it said abuses by anti-government groups were not "of the same gravity, frequency and scale" as those committed by Syrian regime forces and allied Shabiha militia.
The commission, led by investigator Paulo Pinheiro, reports that Syria's rebels are guilty of violations including murder, torture and extra-judicial killings. Abuses by anti-government groups are not "of the same gravity, frequency and scale" as those committed by Syrian regime forces and allied Shabiha soldiers, it says. The UN's findings were published on another day of carnage inside Syria. Opposition activists said at least 30 people were killed and scores wounded when a Syrian jet bombed a hospital in the northern city of Azaz, close to a strategic Turkish border crossing, which was captured by rebels last month after a fierce battle.
The UN's findings were published on another day of carnage inside Syria. Opposition activists said at least 30 people were killed when a Syrian jet bombed a hospital in the northern city of Azaz, close to a strategic Turkish border crossing, which was captured by rebels last month after a fierce battle. The attack reduced several houses in the town to rubble and dozens of men clawed through the concrete and metal debris looking for survivors.
In the capital, Damascus, three people were reportedly wounded in a bomb explosion at a military site near to a hotel where UN observers were staying. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) said it carried out the explosion, targeting a meeting of Syria's military security command – seemingly an attempted repeat of an attack last month which killed four of Assad's advisers. Of 11 Lebanese hostages being held there, seven were injured and four were missing, rebel commander Ahmed Ghazali told the Lebanese news channel Al Jadeed.
The UN's report, covering February-July 2012, is based on nearly 700 interviews with witnesses and survivors, as well as photographs, satellite imagery and forensic and medical reports. The UN complained that its attempts to establish the truth about the conflict had been significantly hampered by what it called a lack of access to the country. In the capital, Damascus, three people were reportedly wounded in a bomb explosion at a military site near to a hotel where UN observers were staying.
After reviewing all the evidence, UN commissioners came to the same conclusion about the Houla massacre as most independent observers: that regime forces and Shabiha fighters were responsible. The government, which blamed armed "terrorists", refused to allow the UN to investigate "despite specific requests", the report says. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) said it carried out the explosion, targeting a meeting of Syria's military security command – seemingly an attempted repeat of an attack last month which killed four of Assad's advisers.
According to the UN, the government's version of events is implausible. The UN says government forces were in control of a key checkpoint just outside the village of Taldou on the day of the massacre, 25 May, and 47 witnesses confirmed that Shabiha fighters entered the village before slaughtering its inhabitants. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation suspended Syria's membership late on Wednesday in a closing statement from its summit in Mecca, citing Assad's violent suppression of the revolt.
"The commission concluded that the elements of the war crime of murder had been met," the report says. "The killing of multiple civilians, including women and children, was deliberate and connected to the ongoing armed conflict. There are reasonable grounds to believe that the perpetrators of the crime, at both the Abdulrazzak and Al-Sayed family locations, were [Syrian] government forces and Shabiha members." The UN's report, covering February-July 2012, was based on nearly 700 interviews with witnesses and survivors, as well as photographs, satellite imagery and forensic and medical reports. The UN complained that its attempts to establish the truth about the conflict had been significantly hampered by what it called a lack of access to the country.
The report says the Syrian regime was guilty of unlawful killing. Typically, it says, the army would blockade an anti-government area and shell it before launching an assault on the ground using special forces and the Shabiha. "Snipers were used extensively," the report says, adding that, after securing the area, government troops carried out house-to-house searches, often "executing" wounded or captured rebels, and, in some cases, also killing their relatives. After reviewing the evidence, UN commissioners came to the same conclusion about the Houla massacre as most independent observers: that regime forces and Shabiha fighters were responsible. The government, which blamed armed "terrorists", refused to allow the UN to investigate "despite specific requests", the report said.
This pattern was repeated in numerous towns and cities across Syria, the UN says, including Homs, the cradle of Syria's insurrection. The UN said the government's version of events was implausible as regime forces were in control of a key checkpoint just outside the village of Taldou on the day of the massacre, 25 May, and 47 witnesses confirmed that Shabiha fighters entered the village before slaughtering its inhabitants.
"The commission concluded that the elements of the war crime of murder had been met," the report said. "The killing of multiple civilians, including women and children, was deliberate and connected to the ongoing armed conflict. There are reasonable grounds to believe that the perpetrators of the crime, at both the Abdulrazzak and Al-Sayed family locations, were [Syrian] government forces and Shabiha members."
The report also found the Syrian regime guilty of numerous instances of unlawful killing. Typically, it said, the army would blockade an anti-government area and shell it before launching an assault on the ground using special forces and Shabiha. "Snipers were used extensively," the report said, adding that, after securing an area, government troops carried out house-to-house searches, often "executing" wounded or captured rebels, and in some cases killing their relatives.
This pattern was repeated in numerours towns and cities across Syria, the UN said, including Homs, the cradle of Syria's insurrection.
The regime used excessive force in several areas including the northern city of Aleppo, the scene of recent fighting between the government and FSA. The government's ostensible target was "terrorists" but, in reality, the attacks were frequently directed at civilian areas, according to the UN.The regime used excessive force in several areas including the northern city of Aleppo, the scene of recent fighting between the government and FSA. The government's ostensible target was "terrorists" but, in reality, the attacks were frequently directed at civilian areas, according to the UN.
The report notes the regime's use of torture. Detainees were beaten on the soles of their feet, hung from walls, forcibly shaved, made to imitate dogs and to declare "there is no god but Bashar". Some men and women were subjected to sexual violence.. This took place both in detention and during house-to-house searches by Shabiha forces, it said. Members of the security forces "in particular military and air force intelligence," were "primarily responsible". The report noted the regime's widespread use of torture. Detainees have been beaten on the soles of their feet, hung from walls, forcibly shaved, made to imitate dogs and to declare "there is no god but Bashar". Some men and women have been subjected to sexual violence. This has taken place both in detention and during house-to-house searches by Shabiha forces, it said. Members of the security forces "in particular military and air force intelligence," were "primarily responsible".
The report says opposition fighters have also committed human rights abuses by executing captured government soldiers, sometimes after a quick "quasi-judicial process". The commission states that "several radical Islamic armed groups" have emerged in Syria and the most important –al-Nusra Front for the People of the Levant – allegedly has links to al-Qaida and has claimed responsibility for suicide attacks against regime targets. The report said opposition fighters have also committed human rights abuses by executing captured government soldiers, sometimes after a quick "quasi-judicial process". The commission stated that "several radical Islamic armed groups" have emerged in Syria and the most important –al-Nusra Front for the People of the Levant – allegedly has links to al-Qaida and has claimed responsibility for suicide attacks against regime targets.
The FSA appears to be sensitive to accusations of abuses and last week published a code of conduct. A week earlier, guerillas from its al-Tawhid group were filmed executing 14 members of the pro-regime Berri clan from Aleppo. The code includes pledges to respect human rights and to treat prisoners humanely, but it is unclear how many of the disparate city-based units fighting under the FSA banner have signed up to it, or are even aware of it. The FSA appears to be sensitive to accusations of abuses and published a code of conduct on Wednesday night. A week earlier, guerillas from its al-Tawhid group were filmed executing 14 members of the pro-regime Berri clan from Aleppo. The code included pledges to respect human rights and to treat prisoners humanely, but it is unclear how many of the disparate city-based units fighting under the FSA banner had signed up to it, or were even aware of it.
In a meeting last week in Istanbul with a political representative of Aleppo-based FSA units, Britain's special envoy to the Syrian opposition, Jon Wilks, underlined the need for the rebels to adhere to human rights principles in order to win recognition from the west, and he is believed to have warned the FSA representative that individual commanders could face war crimes prosecutions after the conflict.In a meeting last week in Istanbul with a political representative of Aleppo-based FSA units, Britain's special envoy to the Syrian opposition, Jon Wilks, underlined the need for the rebels to adhere to human rights principles in order to win recognition from the west, and he is believed to have warned the FSA representative that individual commanders could face war crimes prosecutions after the conflict.
Western capitals and the Arab League are also putting pressure on opposition groups to coalesce around a transition plan for a post-Assad Syria. After an informal meeting of opposition figures, western and Arab diplomats in Cairo at the beginning of the month, hosted by the Washington-based Brookings Institution, the rebels were asked to nominate delegates to a "follow-up committee" to debate the plan.Western capitals and the Arab League are also putting pressure on opposition groups to coalesce around a transition plan for a post-Assad Syria. After an informal meeting of opposition figures, western and Arab diplomats in Cairo at the beginning of the month, hosted by the Washington-based Brookings Institution, the rebels were asked to nominate delegates to a "follow-up committee" to debate the plan.
Diplomatic sources said that by Wednesday most of the nominations had been received by the Arab League. The committee will consist of 21 delegates split roughly equally between exile and Syria-based groups, including the Syrian National Council, Syrian Kurds, the FSA, and the network of local coordinating committees. It will work on drafting a final version of the plan in Cairo offices provided by the Arab League.Diplomatic sources said that by Wednesday most of the nominations had been received by the Arab League. The committee will consist of 21 delegates split roughly equally between exile and Syria-based groups, including the Syrian National Council, Syrian Kurds, the FSA, and the network of local coordinating committees. It will work on drafting a final version of the plan in Cairo offices provided by the Arab League.
They are expected to agree a compromise draft in the next two weeks to pave the way for what the Arab League hopes will be an all-inclusive opposition conference on transition in mid-September in the Egyptian capital.They are expected to agree a compromise draft in the next two weeks to pave the way for what the Arab League hopes will be an all-inclusive opposition conference on transition in mid-September in the Egyptian capital.