Beirut (AsiaNews) – The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a meeting to discuss the situation in Syria. This comes after last night’s talks ended in no agreement because of opposition from Russia and China, as well as Brazil, India, Lebanon and South Africa. In the meantime, the crackdown in Syria continues unabated.
At dawn this morning, Syrian security forces killed six people and wounded dozens in Erbin, a suburb of Damascus, residents report.
At least 24 civilians were reported killed across Syria on Monday. Syrian tanks entered Zabadani on the Lebanese border after Ramadan evening prayers. Two people are reported wounded from machine gun fire.
The UN Security Council should vet a request by some Western countries to condemn formally the bloody crackdown carried out by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, who complimented the army for its “patriotic” behaviour.
Diplomatic sources at the UN said however that, at best, the Security Council would probably issue a general statement without warning of further UN action or sanction, following Moscow and New Delhi, which called on Damascus to stop using force.
The European Union said that it would impose new sanctions on top Syrian officials but not on President Assad himself.
A source in Damascus spoke to AsiaNews about the concerns of Syrian Christians. “So far, they [Christians] have been tied to Assad because Syria, after Lebanon, is the Mideast country where they have been best treated from a legal point of view, without any discrimination against them.”
Last Sunday, a small demonstration was held in the capital’s cathedral. “Syria is doing well” was its theme. (PD)
UN to discuss again the Syrian crisis, but few expect much
Russian and Chinese opposition will prevent any real action. Meanwhile, the crackdown continues. Six people are killed this morning in the Damascus suburb of Erbin. Christians follow the unfolding of events with great concern.
