Clinton joins EU’s Ahton in supporting Syrian opposition
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her European Union counterpart Catherine Ashton emphasized their determination to support forces opposing the Syrian government, even as the Assad regime escalated attacks.
Clinton, appearing with Ashton in Washington, directed comments to residents of Homs, the Syrian city security forces pounded with artillery fire again today after the United Nations General Assembly denounced President Bashar al-Assad’s 11-month crackdown on protesters.
“I do want the people of Syria to understand and believe that there are tens of millions of people around the world who are seized by the terrible situation they find themselves in,” Clinton said. “They have not been abandoned.”
The U.S. and EU “have not been deterred” by Russian and Chinese vetoes of UN Security Council calls for Assad to step down and endorsing a plan to end the conflict, Clinton said. Both women, who plan to attend a “Friends of Syria” meeting in Tunisia next week, said they will focus efforts on supporting the opposition.
That will include providing humanitarian aid and finding ways to strengthen the opposition and help them convey to Syrians the message that they are seeking a peaceful, inclusive democratic transition, Clinton said.
Ashton reaffirmed their belief that Assad had to go. “You cannot kill your own people, you cannot be a leader and call this leadership,” she said.
Shelling Resumes
The two spoke after Syria’s army resumed shelling the Baba Amr, Khalidiyeh and Bayadah areas of Homs at about 7 a.m. today, according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Homs has been under continued assault over the past two weeks, with attacks also carried out yesterday in the southern province of Daraa, where the revolt against Assad began, the central Hama district and northern province of Idlib.
With 137 votes in favor, 12 against and 17 abstentions, the 193-member UN General Assembly approved a resolution that condemned Assad’s human rights violations and endorsed an Arab League plan to end the conflict. Those voting against included Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela.
Syria’s UN ambassador, Bashar Ja’afari, denounced the “shameful vote,” describing the Arab League as a “Trojan horse” allied with Israel and conspiring against Syria.
A resolution at the Security Council, the UN’s decision- making body that can mandate action by member states, calling on Assad to resign was vetoed by China and Russia on Feb. 4. Attacks on the dissidents intensified after the veto.
Unidentified Bodies
Government forces raided neighborhoods and suburbs of the capital, Damascus, where gunfire was heard today. At least 12 civilians were killed in Homs, Aleppo, Daraa, suburbs of Damascus and Deir al-Zour, while nine unidentified bodies were discovered in Homs, Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the observatory and is in touch with a network of contacts in Syria, said in a phone interview.
More than 10,000 people took to the streets in Daraa demanding Assad’s ouster, while rallies were also under way in Aleppo, he said.
The UN estimated as of mid-January that more than 5,400 Syrians had died in the conflict. Before the vote yesterday, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon accused Syria’s government of crimes against humanity, including using hospitals for torture.
New Constitution
Assad has blamed the revolt on “terrorists” and foreign enemies. The government announced this week a Feb. 26 referendum on a new constitution. A draft published on the Syrian Arab News Agency’s website promises “political pluralism” and democratic elections and would limit presidents to two seven-year terms.
The Arab League has called for the formation of an Arab-UN peacekeeping force, a proposal rejected by Syria. Russia has said it would support a UN role in Syrian peacekeeping if outside intervention isn’t allowed and the opposition agrees to a cease-fire.
China’s vice foreign minister, Zhai Jun, is due in Syria today and tomorrow for talks, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in Beijing yesterday. China will “play a constructive role in the mediation” of the conflict, Liu said.
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters in Paris today that the world must apply “maximum pressure” to get rid of Assad. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking after a meeting with Cameron, called for unity among Assad’s opponents.
Britain will send humanitarian aid to Syria including food rations for 20,000 people and medical supplies, to be distributed by three organizations working there, the Department for International Development said in an e-mailed statement, without identifying them.