Showdown over Syria
January 31, 2012
The European Union and the United States are seeking to overcome Russian objections and win support from the UN Security Council to stop the bloodshed in Syria amid reports of dozens of new deaths and warnings from the opposition of a potential massacre.
Russia has vowed to use its veto power to block a resolution introduced by Morocco under which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would accept a ceasefire and hand over power to a deputy ahead of talks on a settlement.
EU leaders, at a Brussels summit on Monday, unanimously voiced their concern over the bloodshed in Syria. EU President Herman Van Rompuy said Europe was "outraged at the atrocities and repression committed by the Syrian regime." He called on the Security Council to "take long overdue steps to bring an end to the repression."
British Prime Minister David Cameron, citing reports that more than 400 children have been killed since the crackdown began 10 months ago, called the situation "appalling."
"It's time for all the members of the UN Security Council to live up to their responsibilities instead of shielding those with blood on their hands," Cameron said.
Regime has 'lost control'
Russia and China, which accused Western nations of misusing a UN mandate to depose Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, vetoed an earlier Western-backed draft resolution on Syria in October.
Asked about a Russian call for talks, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the United States supported a political solution, but was "intensely discussing" with Russia the "real deterioration on the ground" in Syria.
"The regime has lost control of the country and will eventually fall," Carney said.
US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton said in a statement on Monday that Washington "condemns in the strongest possible terms the escalation of the Syrian regime's violent and brutal attacks on its own people."
"The Security Council must act and make clear to the Syrian regime that the world community views its actions as a threat to peace and security," she said.
Government continues crackdown
Human rights groups say that more than 5,400 people have died in Syria, as President Assad tries to crush a rebellion. Various groups have reported that some 53 people were killed by government troops on Monday, a day after 80 others died in clashes.
The regime has reportedly regained control of suburbs around the capital, Damascus, after shelling them for several days. The opposition Syrian National Council has warned of a potential massacre in Rankus, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Damascus, after hundreds of young men were rounded up by security forces.
Before heading to the UN meeting in New York, the head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi, urged Russia and China to change their position, saying that deteriorating conditions had led Arab monitors to suspend their mission in Syria.
In Paris, French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero urged action against what he called "the Syrian regime's savage repression."
Damascus has slammed what it termed "aggressive" statements by the West, calling them "ridiculous" and blaming recent events in the country on "armed terrorist groups."
Author: Gregg Benzow (AFP, dpa, Reuters)
Editor: Matt Zuvela