New York, Sept 28, 2012
New York, Sept 28, 2012
A United Nations Human Rights investigation into war crimes in Syria has been extended by another six months, the rights council voted on Friday, condemning the “increasing number of massacres” in the country.
Out of the council’s 47 members, 41 voted in favor of allowing the Commission of Inquiry to continue its investigation, while three voted against (Russia, China and Cuba) and three abstained (India, Uganda and the Philippines).
The council also condemned widespread violations by Syrian government forces in the 18-month-old conflict.
But the text was rejected as “highly-politicized and selective,” by Syria’s ambassador Faysal Khabbaz Hamoui, according to Reuters news agency. He accused Islamic “terrorists” of fueling the violence in his country.
Since it was set up a year ago, the independent inquiry led by Brazilian Paulo Pinheiro has interviewed more than 1,100 victims, refugees and defectors but has been denied access to Syria.
“The work of the commission of inquiry is important because as they continue to document the names of individuals responsible for these crimes and violations, they help ensure that this will not be a case where impunity prevails, but rather that those responsible for crimes against the Syrian people will face justice and accountability,” U.S. ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe told the talks.
Switzerland has proposed that Carla del Ponte, a former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, join the inquiry as a commissioner and an announcement was expected by the end of the day, diplomats said.
Source: Alarabiya
