Beirut (AsiaNews) - The Human Rights Council yesterday condemned Syria for the Houla massacre. The UN body's vote - 41 in favor, three (Russia, China and Cuba) against, two abstentions and one absent - highlights the international community's opinion of who is most responsible for the Syrian crisis and the growing international isolation of Damascus. By now the Assad regime can only rely on Moscow and Tehran. Yesterday the Russian delegation voted against the resolution of the Council accusing it of being "unbalanced".
During the Council meeting, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, suggested the possibility of accusing Damascus regime of "crimes against humanity and other crimes under international law and may be a sign of a scheme of widespread or systematic attacks against civilians that have been perpetrated with impunity. "
The Arab League has also joined its voice to condemnation of the Houla massacre. In a letter to the Security Council, Nabil Elaraby, Secretary General of the League, calls for nations "act quickly to put an end to acts of violence taking place in Syria and to take necessary measures to protect the civilian population, including increasing international observers. "
On Tuesday the UN Assembly is scheduled to examine the Syrian issue, but, apparently, Kofi Annan, head of the mediation, is set to report to the Security Council about the lack of progress of his work. (PD)
