U.N. Rights Chief Working with Arab League on Syria Case
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The U.N.'s human rights chief is in contact with the Arab League over its efforts to end the deadly crackdown on protests in Syria, a U.N. spokesman said Friday.
The League said Thursday it wants U.N. help in its showdown with President Bashar al-Assad, and diplomats said the League may want a U.N. contribution to an international observer mission that Syria is refusing to let in.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is "extremely concerned at the escalating crisis and mounting death toll in Syria" and is ready to help the Arab League, said U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky, without giving details of what the Arab body is asking for.
Nesirky told reporters however that the office of U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay "is in contact with the secretariat of the League of Arab States" over the request.
Ban backs "the Arab League's proposal to send an observer mission to protect civilians in Syria and strongly urges the Syrian authorities to give their consent and full cooperation as demanded by the League."
On top of the Arab League request, the U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee passed a resolution this week calling on Ban to provide support to the Arab League.
"The Secretary-General is ready to provide the support needed in accordance with his functions and within the framework of the U.N.'s cooperation with the League of Arab States," said the spokesman.
Diplomats said it was likely the Arab League wanted U.N. experts involved in any international observer mission.
The U.N. Human Rights Council has already set up an investigation into the Syria crackdown, which the U.N. says has left at least 3,500 dead. The Syrian government has refused to give access to U.N. rights monitors but the investigation is to release a preliminary report on Monday.
The Arab League gave Syria until Friday to agree to let in an observer mission, but Assad's government has not responded. Arab League foreign ministers will now meet in Cairo Sunday to discuss possible sanctions.
