U.S., EU Condemn Houla Atrocity, Call for 1 Voice Against Assad Regime
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday condemned the "atrocity" of the deaths of 92 people in the Syrian town of Houla, joining global calls for world action to end the bloodshed.
Clinton said the United States would work with its international allies to increase the pressure on President Bashar Assad and his "cronies" after the reported massacre, saying their "rule by murder and fear must come to an end."
"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms yesterday's massacre in the Syrian village of Houla," Clinton said in a statement released by her spokeswoman.
The U.N. mission said 92 bodies, 32 of them children aged less than 10, had been counted in the central Syrian town of Houla after reports of an artillery bombardment by Assad's forces.
Clinton said U.N. observers "have confirmed that dozens of men, women, and children were killed and hundreds more wounded in a vicious assault that involved a regime artillery and tank barrage on a residential neighborhood."
"Those who perpetrated this atrocity must be identified and held to account," she added.
"And the United States will work with the international community to intensify our pressure on Assad and his cronies, whose rule by murder and fear must come to an end."
"We stand in solidarity with the Syrian people and the peaceful marchers in cities across Syria who have taken to the streets to denounce the massacre in Houla," the chief U.S. diplomat said.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also said she was "appalled by the reports of the brutal massacre" and called on the Syrian regime to immediately cease all forms of violence and to abide by the Annan peace plan.
She said she would talk with the former U.N. chief on Sunday to affirm Europe's support and would urge the U.N. Security Council members "to remain seized of the matter."
"The international community must continue to speak with one voice, demanding an end to the bloodshed and urging Assad to step aside and allow a democratic transition," Ashton said.
27 May 2012, 07:56
14
Been there, seen it live in Beirut, Tripoli, Knat, and Zahle on the hands of the Syrian army and effect of their GRAD/155mm missiles before their military entry to those cities. This regime understands one and one language only, the solution is to speak their language from the air.
27 May 2012, 08:31
21
Absolutely Cedars! The Syrian's doctrine is: break the spirit of the civilian population, and support for the opposition / resistance will wane. This is exactly the same tactic that they used against us in the 70s and 80s. Their stalin's organs (rejmet) were firing over our heads in into the villages and towns that we were trying to protect. We the military were not their primary target. Their primary target was our families and relatives cowering in shelters. Thirty-plus years on, I struggle to think of the Syrian army in human terms.
27 May 2012, 08:09
21
as I said in another post, I believe the decision has been taken for a large scale war in the region, involving iran syria and lebanon, especially after the collapse of the iranian talks.
these are extremely dangerous times.
27 May 2012, 08:50
02
They are not covered here karim. There is no justification for the killings whether in Syria or Bahrain or anywhere else. This is a sad world we live in.
27 May 2012, 09:09
01
The massacres in Bahrain are just as wrong as the massacres in Syria! It is a crime to target unarmed civilians. Period!
27 May 2012, 09:39
00
Name one massacre in Bahrain that has occurred. You can't, because there are none. Have you no shame Karim? Aren't these people your fellow Muslims. Is it any wonder this region is the most backward, savage place outside of central Africa.
