UN Human Rights Council votes for probe mission to Syria

April 30, 2011

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PTI | Apr 30, 2011, 06.48am IST

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Human Rights Council has passed a resolution for a

mission to be sent to Syria to investigate into alleged human rights violations

in a crackdown against anti-government protesters.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the clash between the Syrian

government and demonstrators in recent weeks. More than 50 reportedly died on

Friday.

The resolution called " upon the Syrian government to cooperate fully with and

grant access to personnel from the mission dispatched by the Office of the High

Commissioner for Human Rights. "

The resolution was pushed by the US, which called for an emergency session.

Twenty-six nations in the 47-member body, based in Geneva, voted for the

resolution. Nine countries voted against the resolution, while seven abstained

and four countries did not vote.

Russia and China were among those which opposed resolution. Several Arab

nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, either abstained or

were absent.

An attempt by the US and its European allies to pass a press statement on the

situation in Syria in the Security Council had failed on Wednesday.

" I welcome the decision today by the UN Human Rights Council to condemn the

government of Syria for its violent crackdown against peaceful demonstrators, "

Rice, US envoy to the UN, said in a statement.

" With today's vote, the council has stood against attempts to silence dissent

with the use of gratuitous violence, which is not the act of a responsible

government. "

On Friday, the US government imposed sanctions against Syria.

" In addition to actions that we are taking, the United States believes that

Syria's deplorable actions toward its people warrant a strong international

response, " Jay Carney, White House press secretary, said in a statement.

" We welcome the decision today by the UN Human Rights Council to condemn the

government of Syria for its violent crackdown against peaceful demonstrators. "

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