Syria’s Assad faces new sanctions by UN and European Union

Draft resolution being promoted at security council by Britain and France stops short of Libya-style no-fly zone Britain and France are pushing for a UN security council resolution condemning a crackdown on anti-government protesters in Syria. The foreign secretary, William Hague, told parliament that the security council had a “responsibility to speak out” and warned of new EU sanctions unless demands were met. Hague said diplomats were circulating a draft resolution to secure the necessary support from the nine council members. The French foreign minister, Alain Juppé, said it was “inconceivable” that the UN would remain silent while the situation in Syria worsened, and it was “a question of days, maybe hours” before the council voted on the draft resolution. Diplomatic pressure on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has increased amid concerns that the Syrian security forces are preparing an all-out assault on a town where more than 120 troops were reportedly killed over the weekend. Columns of government tanks have surrounded Jisr al-Shughour, near the Turkish border, and most of the town’s 41,000 people are reported to have fled after armed clashes at the weekend. Witnesses had reported long lines of tanks and thousands of troops heading towards the town on Wednesday, according to opposition activist Mustafa Osso. Many of the troops were from the army’s 4th division commanded by Assad’s younger brother Maher, Osso told the Associated Press. The town has largely been abandoned. According to three men who stayed behind, the hospital stood empty and the intelligence headquarters, scene of an uprising on Sunday, was a looted and empty shell. “Most people have left the town because they are scared. They know the deaths will be high,” an activist told Reuters. Hague said the proposed security council resolution would bring action against Syria in line with measures imposed on other countries in the region facing political upheaval. “We must show the same resolve and purpose in supporting change and democratic development elsewhere in the region,” Hague said. The draft resolution falls short of the no-fly zone mandated against Libya that launched a Nato bombing campaign against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces. Russia appears opposed to action against Assad and other security council members such as Brazil and India are reported to be wary of a resolution they fear could foreshadow military intervention Russia’s envoy to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, said: “The prospect of a UN security council resolution that’s along the same lines as resolution 1973 on Libya will not be supported by my country … The use of force, as Libya shows, does not provide answers.” The draft calls on Assad and his government to meet the demands of pro-democracy protesters, free “prisoners of conscience”, lift internet restrictions and co-operate with UN human rights officials. It does not detail or threaten any UN sanctions. “We are working to persuade other countries that the security council has a responsibility to speak out,” Hague said. “President Assad is losing legitimacy and should reform or step aside.” Hague said an EU arms embargo, asset freeze and visa ban on 13 officials imposed against Syria last month had proved successful but tougher measures could follow. “We must show the same resolve and purpose in supporting change and democratic development elsewhere in the region, for example using the economic appeal of the EU to act as a magnet for positive change in the region. “Since my last statement our efforts to agree EU sanctions against President Assad and other individuals responsible for the violence and repression in Syria have been successful. We are exploring with our European partners the potential for further sanctions if the violence continues.” Unlike Gaddafi in the early days of the Libya rebellion, Assad has managed to keep his government together. On Tuesday the network France 24 aired audio it said was of the Syrian ambassador to France issuing a stinging resignation; less than an hour later Syrian state television broadcast different audio of a woman’s voice denying she had quit and threatening to sue the French network. It was not possible to reconcile the two accounts. More than 1,000 people have been killed in more than three months of demonstrations in Syria. Syria Bashar Al-Assad Middle East Arab and Middle East unrest United Nations European Union Barry Neild Martin Chulov guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 8, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.