Amnesty Says U.N. Vote Sent 'Clear' Message to Syria
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Amnesty International said the resolution passed by the U.N. General Assembly condemning the Syrian regime for its deadly crackdown on dissent sends "a clear and unequivocal message" that the violence must end.
In a strongly worded resolution adopted by a 137-12 vote on Thursday, U.N. member states demanded that President Bashar Assad's regime stop attacking civilian demonstrators and start pulling its troops back to barracks.
"The vote sends a clear and unequivocal message from the international community to Syria to immediately end the brutal assault against innocent people," said a statement by Jose Luis Diaz, Amnesty's Head of U.N. Office.
"Crimes against humanity are taking place in Syria. Whilst Russia and a handful of states continue to shield Syria, the result of today's vote shows they are increasingly isolated."
Russia, China and Iran opposed the largely symbolic text put forward by Arab states with Western support just days after Beijing and Moscow vetoed a similar resolution in the U.N. Security Council.
"It is long overdue for the international community to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court; put in place a comprehensive arms embargo and to freeze the assets of Bashar Assad and other top officials," Diaz said.
"Those states that continue to block moves to end the crackdown will have innocent blood on their hands."
Human rights groups say that more than 6,000 people have been killed over the past 11 months in the Assad regime's crackdown on dissent.
17 February 2012, 12:34
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UN lost credibility long time ago. When its actions turn political, and playing favorites. It is deemd to be useless. except when we need to legalize a war, and destroy a nation, then it might come handy. The numbers here are a joke. Only five votes count, the rest can go home. What a waste of money.
17 February 2012, 14:28
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This vote is in the general assembly where every vote counts. In the security council "only 5 votes count" because of the veto. I guess the UN is like any other organisation, politics play a role in decision making and the smart ones make the best of it. Remember the security council didnt come up with a decision against Syria because of the Russian and Chinese vetos so is that credible to you?
Sitting on the side and claiming the UN lost credibility is just living in denial...Things are not always black or white. They I mostly grey...I think!
