UN: Time for killings in Syria to stop

[News_Editor]

UN: Time for killings in Syria to stop

2011-07-08 06:08:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called once again on Syrian authorities to stop their crackdown on protesters and to allow access for the UN to assess the humanitarian situation in the country.

The Secretary-General told reporters in Geneva that the killings "must stop," adding "we cannot go on like this." He also called on the Syrian leadership to deliver on its commitments and allow access for a UN humanitarian assessment team and a human rights fact-finding mission mandated by the Human Rights Council.

In mid-March, pro-democracy demonstrations began in Syria and have continued across the country, which has been ruled by the Baath Party since 1963. Protesters are demanding the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, who took over his father in 2000.

The unrest in recent months has reportedly claimed the lives of 1,200 people and sent more than 10,000 fleeing across the border into Turkey.

Last month, President al-Assad pledged to carry out reforms in response to the protests. Mr. Ban had urged the President to carry out the measures without delay and in a way that is both genuine and credible.

UN officials have voiced deep concern about the situation amid continuing reports of excessive use of force against demonstrators. Human Rights Watch reported on Wednesday that at least 16 people were killed over the past two days in Syria's central city of Hama.

The New York-based rights group said Syrian security forces responded to a large peaceful protest on July 1 with a series of deadly raids. Security forces and pro-government armed groups known as "shabiha" raided homes, opened fire, and set up checkpoints encircling Hama, Syria's fourth-largest city.

Assad previously said that the recent events in the country are a conspiracy against national unity. The Syrian government has repeatedly claimed that the violent acts have been instigated by terrorists who use military uniforms and weaponry to pose as soldiers while attacking citizens.

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