UN: Syria now in state of civil war, death toll at more than 4,000
EU adopts new, wide-ranging sanctions against Assad regime; U.S. Treasury blacklists two top Syria officials.
By Reuters Tags: Syria UNSyria is now in a state of civil war with more than 4,000 dead and increasing numbers of defecting soldiers taking up arms against the government of President Bashar Assad, the top United Nations human rights official said on Thursday.
"We are placing the figure at 4,000, but really the reliable information coming to us is that it is much more than that," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told a news conference.
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Mass pro-Assad rally in Syria, November 28, 2011. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
"I have said that as soon as there were more and more defectors threatening to take up arms, I said this in August before the Security Council, there was going to be a civil war. At the moment that's how I am characterizing this," she said.
Meanwhile, the European Union on Thursday adopted new sanctions against Syria to increase pressure on its regime to end the crackdown.
The Syria sanctions were expected to be wide-ranging, diplomats said, affecting everything from the sale of computer software and insurance to Syria's banking and energy sectors.Travel bans and asset freezes would also be applied to 12 people and 11 entities.
The U.S. Treasury Department also imposed further sanctions on Thursday against two Syrian officials and two firms for supporting the Syrian government and urged more pressure to bring an end to violence against protesters.
The treasury blacklisted Muhammad Makhluf, an uncle of Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad, and Aus Asla who was described as a general in the Syrian military and said Americans are banned from any dealings with them.
It also named the Military Housing Establishment as a Syrian government-controlled company that provides financing to the regime and Real Estate Bank, which Treasury said handles borrowing for the government. Americans are prohibited from any dealings with the firms.
Treasury said it was critical to escalate pressure against the Syrian government to stop the use of brutal tactics against pro-democracy protesters.
On Sunday, the Arab League approved a series of financial sanctions against Syria.
The sanctions are believed to include a travel ban on senior Syrian officials and a halt to commercial flights to the country. Dealings with Syria's central bank would be halted, but basic commodities needed by the Syrian people would be exempted from the list of sanctions.
The move to impose new sanctions on Syria was supported by 19 of the 22 Arab League states.
Read this article in Hebrew: האו"ם: סוריה הידרדרה למלחמת אזרחים, יותר מ-4,000 בני אדם נהרגו
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I suspect the latter as Assad is resorting to the same bloody and gory mistake in dealing with his people's displeasure that his "King of Kings" mentor back in Libya had done.
but they havent mentioned this supposed civil war. Ver much unlike the Lebanese people I have gotten to know who were always talking about such things in the 70's, 80s and 90s. Fabrication?
here for decades. they are US citizens,
but why do we never see those big pro government protests on TV here? they are a lot bigger (from what I can tell) then the anti government protests???
you never saw the massive pro gaddafi protests in Libya. they have a vested interest in getting Assad out.
Aassad and his people have nowhere to go! Like Husain and Gadafi he will fight, then hide until found and killed.
and the region facing Israel will be more Islamic - more in a bubble - and more radical - the fact remains that a Christian in Syria is FAR freer than a Christian anywhere else - they fled Iraq to Syria and now they will flee Syria - as they are now doing In Egypt.
Your implication that Israel somehow controls American and European FP is utterly unfounded and is little more than the Protocols of the Elders of Zion refashioned ito fit the 21st century.
this is the same body that has done nothing about Israel taking land in the west bank against international law - now its the beacon of Justice? Please - well, lets see what they do with the PA efforts there this coming year.
Your time is up, ya Bashar. I suggest you dig up your father's bones and take them with you into exile, for otherwise they will be desecrated. Your opposition is now armed and soon enough they will become sufficiently organized to have the West assist them by bombing, and with the blessing of the Arab countries, as was done in Afghanistan and Libya. Go now or join Gadhafi.
in our country (West + others), 1 death = death penalty or Life imprisonment. In Syria 4000 death (much more I'm sure!) and nobody says something. WHY ?
end it now by any and all means necessary