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maddezmom

(135,060 posts)
Mon Jun 25, 2012, 11:28 AM Jun 2012

U.N. rights investigator in Syria for first talks: sources

Source: Turrets

GENEVA (Reuters) - A top U.N. human rights investigator has been holding talks in Damascus with senior Syrian officials to pave the way for a probe into massacres and other atrocities in the country, U.N. and diplomatic sources said on Monday.

It is the first time Brazilian expert Paulo Pinheiro has been granted permission to enter Syria since his team was set up in September by the U.N. Human Rights Council.

"He is trying to pave the way for us to be able to go into the country," a U.N. source told Reuters in Geneva. "We need to go before September when our final report is to be submitted."

In reports based on hundreds of interviews with witnesses, survivors and refugees in the region, the team has accused Syrian forces of committing crimes against humanity, including executions and torture. It has also blamed rebels for carrying out atrocities.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-syria-crisis-pinheirobre85o0l1-20120625,0,282860.story

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U.N. rights investigator in Syria for first talks: sources (Original Post) maddezmom Jun 2012 OP
UN: Fighting in Syria Escalated 'Dramatically' Since February maddezmom Jun 2012 #1

maddezmom

(135,060 posts)
1. UN: Fighting in Syria Escalated 'Dramatically' Since February
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 07:57 AM
Jun 2012

¬snip¬

In a report Wednesday to the U.N. Human Rights Council, the investigators said the situation in Syria is "dangerously and quickly deteriorating." The report said there is evidence of human rights abuses committed by both sides, but that violations by Syrian government forces are occurring on an "alarming" scale.

It said that in the case of the May 25 attack on the town of Houla, which killed 108 people, pro-government forces may have been responsible for "many of the deaths." However it said the role of opposition or foreign forces could not be ruled out and that the investigation will continue.

U.N.-appointed investigator Paulo Pinheiro said his team was particularly concerned about reports of the opposition using children as medical porters and messengers, and exposing them to the risk of death and injury.

Syria criticized the proceedings and said it would not participate in what it called a politicized process.

In violence Wednesday, Syria's state-run news agency said an "armed terrorist group" killed three people during an attack on a pro-government television station. SANA said terrorists planted explosives during the attack at the headquarters of the al-Ikhbaria satellite channel, but did not say how the employees died.

more: http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-says-terrorists-kill-three-in-tv-station-attack/1253159.html

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