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The Vatican, the United States, the United Nations are all in agreement in condemning Syria’s outrageous use of force against its own people and have called for reform.
In receiving the Syrian ambassador’s credentials, Pope Benedict took the opportunity of saying the Holy See urges the troubled Syrian government to respect Syrian citizens’ desire for reform, and accept guidance from the international community.
“The events of the past months in some nearby Mediterranean countries, Syria among them, demonstrate the desire for a better future in the areas of political, economic, and social life,” the Pope noted in a letter that he gave to Syrian ambassador Hussan Edin Aala on June 9.
“It is greatly desirable that this evolution not take place in a climate of intolerance, discrimination, or conflict and, still less, of violence,” the Pope wrote, “but rather in a climate of absolute respect for the truth, for co-existence, for the legitimate rights of the person and the collective, and of reconciliation.”
“These are the principles that should guide the authorities, keeping always in mind the aspiration of civil society and international directives.”
The US too warned against Syria’s “outrageous use of violence” against anti-government protesters, saying it is going down a “dangerous path”.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the use of military force as “unacceptable.”
A spokesman for Mr Ban said he was “keen to speak to” Syria’s president, however he has been unavailable.
On Friday, anti-government activists said about 15 people had died in the northern province of Idlib.
Human rights groups say more than 1,300 people have died in the crackdown, mostly unarmed civilians. The government denies this and says about 500 security forces’ personnel have died.
More than 3,000 Syrians – mostly women and children – have crossed the border into Turkey to escape the violence, many of them from Jisr al-Shughour. An unknown number of people are thought to have fled to other locations within Syria.
Sources
- BBC
- CNA
- Image: Save Syria Now
Related Posts:
- Syrian Jesuits call for end to violence, national unity
- Save Syria Now (Blog)
- Lombardi editorial: Syria’s Suffering
News category: World.
