Mustaqbal Blames Regime over Houla Massacre, Qabbani Condemns Crime against Humanity
Ex-Premier Saad Hariri’s al-Mustaqbal movement held the Assad regime on Monday responsible for the “terrorist action” that left at least 108 people, nearly half of them children, dead in the Syrian town of Houla.
Al-Mustaqbal condemned “the horrific crime” and held “the regime responsible for the terrorist action that could be described as a crime against humanity.”
It said in a statement that the international community “should take a firm stance towards the crimes that are being carried out daily against the unarmed Syrian people.”
Al-Mustaqbal reiterated that the Syrian regime has lost legitimacy after resorting to shelling and murders by government thugs against protestors calling for democratic reform.
“This requires a quick move by the international community, including the Arab and Islamic world, to stop the madness of the regime forces and their actions against unarmed civilians and children.”
U.N. officials said the slaughter in Houla claimed the lives of 49 children and 34 women.
The opposition Free Syrian Army has given a death toll of 116 but U.N. observers said they have seen 108 bodies.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani also condemned the Houla massacre on Monday but stopped short of holding the Assad regime responsible for the crime.
“This is a big crime against humanity as a whole over the brutal atrocities committed by those who carried it,” he said.
Qabbani also expressed regret at the killing of Syrians and the destruction of their homes.
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