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U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says violence against Syrians has
continued despite his repeated calls for President Bashar al-Assad to halt
"excessive and lethal" actions by government security forces.
Ban made the comments while speaking Thursday at the University of Sydney
in Australia.
"I have repeatedly urged President Assad to end the excessive and lethal
use of force by his security forces against his own people - Syrian people - and
to engage in meaningful inclusive dialogue by taking bold political reform
before it is too late," he said. "Yet the violent operation against the
civilians, including mass arrests and killings, continues.
France on Wednesday accused Syria of committing "crimes against humanity"
in the crackdown as activists said Syrian security forces killed at least 20
people during raids against anti-government protesters.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe condemned the violence, saying
international sanctions against Syria are justified. He met with Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov and urged Russia to take a stronger stance against Syria.
Lavrov said his country still favors using dialogue to resolve the unrest.
The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said Wednesday it is
"past time" for a Security Council resolution to pressure Assad's government.
She said support for additional measure is not yet unanimous, but members will
continue working towards a "meaningful resolution."
Syria's opposition coalition - the Local Coordinating Committees of Syria -
said the majority of Wednesday's deaths took place in the central Homs
region.
A coalition spokesman said Syrian security forces backed by tanks swept
into Homs early Wednesday, and that a "complete military assault" took place in
several neighborhoods in the flashpoint city.
Also Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Assad, should
back away from his violent crackdown on protesters and enter talks with the
opposition.
During a live interview in Tehran with a Portuguese television station
Radiotelevisao Portuguesa, the Iranian leader said "a military solution is never
the right" one. He said problems must be dealt with through dialogue.
Earlier this year, Iranian security officials used tear gas and electric
batons to disperse anti-government protesters in Tehran. Scores were arrested.
And at least 72 people were killed during the crackdown on protests after Iran's
disputed 2009 presidential elections. Iranian authorities also arrested hundreds
of people and sentenced more than 80 of them to prison.
Meanwhile, Assad's government delayed a planned Arab League visit expected
to begin Wednesday. The league said Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby now plans to
visit Syria on Saturday.
Elaraby has said he wants to express Arab concerns about the violence in
Syria and listen to the opinions of Syrian leaders. Last month, Syrian
authorities rejected an Arab League statement calling for an end to the
bloodshed.
The United Nations estimates 2,200 people have been killed since March
after Assad launched the crackdown on dissent. However, Syria has blamed much of
the violence on armed gangs and "terrorists." |
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发表于 2016-7-10 17:38:38