BEIRUT – BEIRUT
-- Warnings from Syrian activists of a humanitarian catastrophe in Homs
grew more desperate Thursday as government forces resumed shelling an
opposition stronghold in the restive central city, where hundreds have
died in a weekslong siege.
Across the country, at least 16 people were
killed in attacks by security forces in rebellious areas that included
the Hama countryside in central Syria and the mountainous Jabal
al-Zawiya region in the north. The Local Coordination Committees
activist network said the overall number of Syrians killed was 40, but
there was no immediate confirmation from other groups.
About 30 people, including two Western
journalists, were killed in shelling on Wednesday -- most of them in the
rebel-held Baba Amr neighborhood which is the center of the resistance
in the city. Homs has been under a fierce government attack for nearly
three weeks.
In London, diplomats from United States,
Europe and Arab nations prepared to demand that Syrian President Bashar
Assad call a cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid within days into
areas hardest hit by his regime's crackdown on opponents.
The ultimatum, outlined by participants to
the London talks, is likely to be presented Friday in Tunisia at a major
international conference on the Syrian crisis. Further defiance by
Assad could bring even tougher sanctions and isolation.
Homs-based activist Omar Shaker said intense
barrages hit residential districts in Baba Amr again Thursday, but
there was no immediate word on casualties. He said food, water and
medical supplies are running dangerously low in Baba Amr.
"Every minute counts. People will soon start to collapse from lack of sleep and shortages in food," he said.
On Wednesday, shelling of Baba Amr killed
American-born veteran war correspondent Marie Colvin and French
photographer Remi Ochlik.
They were among a group of journalists who
had crossed into Syria illegally and were sharing accommodations with
activists, raising speculation that government forces targeted the
makeshift media center where they were staying. But opposition groups
had previously described the shelling as indiscriminate. At least two
other Western journalists were wounded on Wednesday.
A Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman offered
condolences to the families of Colvin and Ochlik but rejected any
responsibility for their deaths. The spokesman urged foreign journalists
to respect Syrian laws and not to sneak into the country.
Some Syrians held protests and vigils Wednesday night in several parts of Homs in commemoration of Colvin and Ochlik.
"Remi Ochlik, Marie Colvin, we will not forget you," read one banner held by protesters in the town of Qsour in Homs province.
In the northwestern city of Aleppo, security
forces fired tear gas at hundreds of students at Aleppo University
staging an anti-regime protest. Aleppo, like the capital Damascus, has
remained relatively quiet during the nearly year-long anti-government
uprising gripping the country. But the city has become increasingly
tense, particularly Aleppo University where authorities fired on
protesting students on Wednesday and killed one.
In Geneva, a panel of U.N. human rights
experts said Thursday that the United Nations has a secret list of top
Syrian officials who could face investigation for crimes against
humanity carried out by security forces in their crackdown against the
anti-government uprising.
The U.N. experts indicated that the list goes as high as President Bashar Assad.
Experts say the list is initially likely to
be more of a deterrent against further abuses than a direct threat to
the Assad regime. Syria isn't a member of the International Criminal
Court so its jurisdiction doesn't apply there, and Russia would likely
block any moves in the U.N. Security Council to refer the country to the
Hague-based tribunal.
Thousands of Syrians have died in the
violence since March and the panel, citing what it called a reliable
source, said at least 500 children are among the dead.
The meeting in Tunis is expected to bring
together more than 70 nations to look at ways to assist Assad's
opponents, who now include defected military officers and soldiers.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague told BBC radio that military
intervention was very unlikely, as "the consequences of any outside
intervention are much harder to foresee."
A senior EU official said foreign ministers
meeting in Brussels next week will add seven Syrian government ministers
to those already sanctioned. Sanctions include asset freezes and visa
bans for officials, commanders of the security forces and others
considered responsible for human rights abuses.
The official, who spoke on condition of
anonymity because of EU rules, said additional restrictions may be
imposed on Syria's central bank, on imports of precious metals from the
country, and on cargo flights.
The EU had already sanctioned more than 70 Syrians and 19 organizations, and has banned imports of Syrian crude oil.
In Amman, Jordan, several dozen Syrians,
mainly from Homs, staged a protest outside the U.S. Embassy asking for
Western military intervention. "Almighty God, destroy Bashar," they
chanted.
No comments:
Post a Comment