Chief UN monitor condemns Syrian 'brutality'

27 May 2012, 3:23 am   -   Source: AAP
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The United Nations mission chief in Syria has condemned the brutality in Houla, as Britain urgently seeks a strong international response.

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The UN mission chief in Syria Major General Robert Mood has condemned the "brutal tragedy" in Houla, where he says 92 bodies, including those of more than 32 children, have been counted.

Mood said he condemns "in the strongest possible terms the brutal tragedy" that took place in Houla, in central Homs, adding that UN monitors visited the area and counted 92 bodies, including "more than 32 under the age of 10."

"Those using violence for their own agendas will create more instability, more unpredictability and may lead country to civil war," Mood added in remarks to reporters in Damascus on Saturday.

Britain, meanwhile, is in urgent talks with allied countries on "a strong international response" to the latest bloodshed.

"We are consulting urgently with our allies on a strong international response, including at the UN Security Council, the EU and UN human rights bodies," Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

"Our urgent priority is to establish a full account of this appalling crime and to move swiftly to ensure that those responsible are identified and held to account," he said.

Hague called for the Syrian regime to cease all military operations in accordance with a peace plan brokered by UN special envoy Kofi Annan, and to allow monitors "full and immediate access" to Houla and other conflict areas.

The shelling of the town of Houla by regime forces began at around noon on Friday and continued until dawn on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

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Your Comments

Mr.

Wayne in Gippsland - from Morwell, Victoria., 1 year

A very strong response is called for indeed, but not only against Assad and his supporters. Oppossition forces are also a problem. Rageing hatred is only too apparent in Syria. The world has done far too little to resolve this dreadful situation. Who are the "enemy" and what can be done to stop all of this?Long term solutions are needed, not just a quick political response.

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