UN condemns Syrian ‘atrocities’

Navi Pillay called on the international community to ensure that the perpetrators are held responsible for “atrocities” that may amount to crimes against humanity.

In an address to a special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Pillay said:

“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.”

‘Grave danger’

Ms Pillay repeated her appeals for support for the UN’s six-point plan to stop the violence.

“Otherwise, the situation in Syria might descend into a fully-fledged conflict and the future of the country, as well as the region as a whole could be in grave danger.”

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. Navi Pillay, United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights

It is the fourth emergency session convened by the UN to discuss the ongoing bloodshed in Syria.

A draft resolution being put to the council “condemns in the strongest possible terms such an outrageous use of force against the civilian population”. It also calls for an investigation by the UN into the “atrocities” carried out by Assad’s troops.

Syria has dismissed the resolution as “full of hate” by groups who are trying to stoke civil war.

Syria’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Fayssal al-Hamwi, said: “Those countries who instigated this session have the common objectives of causing more bloodshed amongst the Syrian people and trying to ignite a civil war.”

More mass killings

There has been another mass killing in Syria, according to opposition activists. 13 factory workers were taken off a bus and executed on Thursday near the western town of Qusair.

The killings were apparently carried out by by Shabiha, the militia backed by the Assad regime. Some of the victims appeared to have been shot in the head or stomach at close range.

It comes after more than 100 civilians, including dozens of children, were killed in last week’s massacre at Houla.

Whole families were taken from their homes and killed in some of the most horrific violence seen since the uprising against President Assad began in March last year.

Earlier this week, the bodies of another 13 men were found with their hands tied behind their backs in another mass killing in Deir Azzor in the country’s east.

Watch Alex Thomson's eye-witness account: The searing grief of Houla's survivors

Military intervention not ruled out

Foreign Secretary William Hague has left the door open to the possibility of military intervention if the current UN-led peace plan fails.

He said that Britain was not yet prepared to arm Syria’s rebel opposition, but that if Kofi Annan’s plan were to collapse further, “other options” would need to be looked at.

Mr Hague is in Turkey for talks with Syria’s opposition as the so-called ceasefire crumbles further.

He has urged Russia to increase pressure on the Syrian regime to comply with the UN’s demands for a ceasefire.

“It would be better to use [for the Russians to use] their leverage to make sure that even now the Assad regime implements that plan.”

He says any possible intervention would depend on the UN and what would be both effective and practical.

Downing Street has said it is also investigating other options, including further sanctions against Syria’s government and businesses.