BICOM

Britain has welcomed Arab condemnation of the crackdown by the Syrian regime, with Foreign Secretary William Hague warning that the world cannot watch in silence while protesters are killed. Kuwait and Bahrain joined Saudi Arabia in recalling their ambassadors from Syria, in a move that has further isolated the regime of President Bashar Assad. Gulf states are also preparing to meet to discuss the violence in Syria. Meanwhile, Turkey, India, Brazil and South Africa are sending envoys to Syria to appeal for an end to the violent crackdown. Officials said country’s representatives were to meet “high-level” Syrians on Wednesday.

On Monday in the town of Deir el-Zour there were reports of new artillery strikes, a day after 42 people were killed in an intensifying crackdown by the regime. Hague said: “I condemn the violence against Syrian citizens in Hama, Deir el-Zour and other cities that shows no signs of ending. Hama and Deir el-Zour have been under siege for days by regime forces who have reportedly even used an anti-aircraft gun. This brutality exposes the regime’s claims to be committed to a reform process as an utter sham.” Hague added “We must not watch in silence while hundreds are killed and thousands more detained and tortured. I therefore welcome the strong condemnation by countries across the Arab world and Turkey of the regime’s actions and am urgently working with partners on increasing the pressure further on President Assad and those around him.”

Mr Hague also criticised the arrest of prominent opposition figure Walid al-Bunni by security forces. “I deplore the arrest of the political activist Walid al-Bunni and his two sons. Their arrest shows the regime’s disregard for meaningful dialogue. I call on the authorities to release them immediately.”

In related news, Radio France yesterday cited an as-yet unpublished report from a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees committee, which reported over the weekend that Hezbollah members, as well as members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, had killed Syrian Army defectors. The radio station said the 20-page report will be published in the coming days, and includes testimonies from former Syrian Army members. According to Radio France, the UNHCR report will say that Syrian soldiers who refused to fire-on protesters were detained by Hezbollah and Revolutionary Guard members, operating inside Syria, and then executed them.