UNHRC condemns 'gross' violations in Syria
By REUTERS
12/02/2011 18:50
UN rights council adopts resolution put forward by EU with 37 states in favor, 4 against including Russia, China.

GENEVA - The United Nations top human rights forum strongly condemned Syria on Friday for "gross and systematic" violations by its forces, including executions, that it said may amount to crimes against humanity. The 47-member forum adopted a resolution put forward by the European Union (EU) by a vote of 37 states in favour, four against including China and Russia, with six abstentions. The text called for the "main bodies" of the United Nations to consider a UN report which found that crimes of humanity had been committed and "take appropriate action."

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay earlier on Friday called on the international community to take action to protect the civilian population in Syria from "ruthless repression" as the country slides into civil war. More than 4,000 people have been killed, including 307 children, in the military crackdown since March and more than 14,000 people are believed to be held in detention, she told an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council.

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