US tightens sanctions against Syria

[News_Editor]

US tightens sanctions against Syria

2011-04-30 10:59:23 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON (BNO NEWS) -- The United States on Friday imposed new sanctions against members of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad responsible for the violent crackdown on protesters, the White House said in a statement.

"The United States condemns the use of violence against peacefully demonstrating citizens in Syria, and calls on the Syrian government to respect human rights and to forge a credible path to a future of greater freedom, democracy, opportunity, and justice," President Barack Obama said in a letter to the speaker of the house of representatives.

"As we have communicated to the Syrian government directly, the United States will consider changes in the policies and actions of the Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the future."

According to the White House, the sanctions specifically target Mahir al-Asad, the brother of President al-Asad and brigade commander in the Syrian Army's 4th Armored Division, who has played a leading role in Dar'a, where protesters have been killed by Syrian security forces. They also target the president's cousin Atif Najib, who was the head of the Political Security Directorate for Dar'a province when protesters were killed.

The director of Syria's General Intelligence Directorate and the intelligence service itself were also affected. The sanctions also named the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force for providing support to the Syrian government.

The national emergency declaration was extended for another year and bans US citizens from engaging in business with them.

The White House also welcomed the decision today by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the reported violations of international law after hundreds of people have been killed during weeks of unrest.

"We strongly support the resolution passed today in Geneva, including the mandate for an urgent mission by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law, with the goal of ensuring full accountability for the perpetrators of the violence," the White House said.

In a resolution approved by 26 of the 47 Member States, the Council requested Navy Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to dispatch a mission to Syria to investigate the alleged violations. Nine Member States voted against the resolution, seven abstained and four were absent.

The Geneva-based panel also called for the restoration of access to the Internet and other communication networks, the lifting of media censorship and to allow foreign journalists into the country.

Furthermore, Syrian authorities were urged to immediately free all political prisoners and people arbitrarily detained, during and before the anti-government demonstrations, and put an end to intimidation, persecution and arbitrary arrests.

Kyung-wha Kang, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that over 450 people have reportedly been killed and three times that number injured due to the widespread use of live fire ammunition against protesters.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-30

[Steely Dan]

Syria is on the verge of civil war with hundreds dead, yet our liberal left friends are nowhere to be seen to condemn this massacre. Iran are there quite conspicuously however propping up the military, but the Iranians (great humanitarians that they are) are unhappy with Assad who they think is too soft on the protesters and should take a leaf out of the Iranian book.

http://www.debka.com/article/20887/

But the conspirators insist it is not enough: They want Assad to crack down harder with the help of intensified Iranian intelligence and logistical intervention. The opposition is already receiving a constant flow of weapons organized by Saudi intelligence and smuggled in from Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon. The quantities are beyond control of Syrian army and security forces. More direct help from Iran is essential.

[Robby nz]

Now we see step two as per Lybia.

But this one will not be so easy as Iran is a friend of Syria and will come to their aid when the 'no fly zone' is put in place and the bombing starts.

Then the jews will become involved and presto we have WW3.

It would seem pretty obvious that the dissident factions in the arab and african countries have taken note of what has gone down in Libya and are hoping for the same 'humanitarian' assistance from NATO.

[Steely Dan]

There can't be a no fly-zone as Syria is regarded as a true Arab Country, unlike Libya, there is also considerably less oil though I don't judge this to be a major factor. What we do have is a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran will be furious because if the Sunni majority takes over in Syria bang goes it's supply route to Hizbollah in Lebannon and with Syria out of the game Hizbollah's rivals in Lebannon may take the opportunity to try and depose the Hizbollah puppet regime there.

P.S I would look to see whether Arhmedinajad reappears as this will be in my oppinion decisive to what happens in Syria.