UN: 3,500 civilians killed in Syria strife
Source: Agencies |
November 9, 2011, Wednesday
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SYRIA'S nearly eight-month-old uprising has cost at least 3,500 civilian lives, the United Nations reported yesterday, in a tally based on figures gathered outside the country.
That includes dozens killed since last week's Arab League-brokered peace plan, and the passing of a major Muslim holiday on Sunday, according to the UN human rights office.
Ravina Shamdasani - a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - said "more than 60 people are reported to have been killed by Syrian security forces since Syria signed the peace plan" sponsored by the league.
She told reporters in Geneva the tally includes 19 killed on Sunday during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.
The UN figures are conservative and based on "credible sources on the ground," though the agency itself has no one posted in the country, Shamdasani said.
The government has largely sealed off the country from foreign journalists and prevented independent reporting, but amateur videos posted online and details gathered by activist groups have been filtering out.
Damascus had agreed under the Arab League plan to pull tanks and armored vehicles out of cities, release political prisoners and allow journalists and rights groups into the country.
Despite the release of more than 500 detainees on the eve of Eid al-Adha, she said "tens of thousands continue to remain in detention and dozens are reported to be arbitrarily arrested and detained."
Activists have reported that fresh attacks by Syrian troops yesterday morning killed two people in a rebellious neighborhood in the central Syrian city of Homs.
A key opposition group, the Syrian National Council, declared the city a "disaster area" on Monday and appealed for international intervention to protect civilians.
That includes dozens killed since last week's Arab League-brokered peace plan, and the passing of a major Muslim holiday on Sunday, according to the UN human rights office.
Ravina Shamdasani - a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - said "more than 60 people are reported to have been killed by Syrian security forces since Syria signed the peace plan" sponsored by the league.
She told reporters in Geneva the tally includes 19 killed on Sunday during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.
The UN figures are conservative and based on "credible sources on the ground," though the agency itself has no one posted in the country, Shamdasani said.
The government has largely sealed off the country from foreign journalists and prevented independent reporting, but amateur videos posted online and details gathered by activist groups have been filtering out.
Damascus had agreed under the Arab League plan to pull tanks and armored vehicles out of cities, release political prisoners and allow journalists and rights groups into the country.
Despite the release of more than 500 detainees on the eve of Eid al-Adha, she said "tens of thousands continue to remain in detention and dozens are reported to be arbitrarily arrested and detained."
Activists have reported that fresh attacks by Syrian troops yesterday morning killed two people in a rebellious neighborhood in the central Syrian city of Homs.
A key opposition group, the Syrian National Council, declared the city a "disaster area" on Monday and appealed for international intervention to protect civilians.
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