U.N.: At least 3,500 dead in Syria crackdown

(AP) 

GENEVA - Syria's nearly eight-month-old uprising has cost at least 3,500 civilian lives, the United Nations reported Tuesday, in a tally based on figures gathered outside the country.

That includes dozens killed since last week's Arab League-brokered peace plan, and the passing of a major Muslim holiday on Sunday, according to the U.N. human rights office.

Ravina Shamdasani — a spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights — said "more than 60 people are reported to have been killed by Syrian security forces since Syria signed the peace plan" sponsored by the league.

She told reporters in Geneva the tally includes 19 killed on Sunday during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.

The U.N. figures are conservative and based on "credible sources on the ground," though the agency itself has no one posted in the country, Shamdasani said.

Defying neighbors, Syria keeps hammering Homs
Syrian troops fight defectors in besieged city
Syria ignores Arab League peace plan

The government has largely sealed off the country from foreign journalists and prevented independent reporting, but amateur videos posted online and details gathered by activist groups have been filtering out.

Damascus had agreed under the Arab League plan to pull tanks and armored vehicles out of cities, release political prisoners and allow journalists and rights groups into the country.

Despite the release of more than 500 detainees on the eve of Eid al-Adha, Shamdasani said "tens of thousands continue to remain in detention and dozens are reported to be arbitrarily arrested and detained."

As a result, she said, the U.N. human rights office is "deeply concerned" that the violence continues unabated as the government continues to use tanks and armored vehicles to attack some areas.

Activists have reported that fresh attacks by Syrian troops on Tuesday morning killed two people in a rebellious neighborhood in the central Syrian city of Homs, as the military struggles to consolidate control over the district.

A key opposition group, the Syrian National Council, declared the city a "disaster area" on Monday and appealed for international intervention to protect civilians, as well as calling for Arab and international observers to oversee the situation on the ground. Homs has a population of some 800,000 and is some 100 miles north of the capital, Damascus.

Despite increasing international pressure, President Bashar Assad still has a firm grip on power and has shown no signs of moving to stop the crackdown on the uprising against his regime since mid-March.

He blames the bloodshed on "armed gangs" and extremists acting out a foreign agenda to destabilize the regime, portraying himself as the lone force who can ward off the radicalism and sectarianism that have bedeviled neighbors in Iraq and Lebanon.

[FreshxWater]

Why isn't Obama and the UN sending in forces like we did in Iraq, Afghanistan, Philippines, Columbia, and Libya? For sure Syria has killed more citizens in a shorter time span than any of the above countries!

[SandmanUSMC]

In the end though every day Syrians want democracy. I do feel the least the UN Security Council could do is take away Assad's heavy weapons. The Arab League will need to step up and support this though, or it will be seen as western intervention.

The real cowards here are the Arab League. Syria is allies with Iran (Shiite Muslims) so you can see how nasty this whole thing can get.

For better or worse corrupt, bloody dictators in the region need to be purged from power. Until this happens this region will remain full of problems.

[bradidf1]

The world turns a blind eye to the true dictator who has slaughtered more people than Libya and Egypt's leaders put together. The US and the UN are hypocrites.We were so quick to put down a true civil war in Libya (oil) and sit back watching the slaughter of people daily in Syria. Syria is supported by Russia and Iran. We are afraid to make a move. the US actually fears Assad.Assad sees he holds all the cards. he sees how no one raises a hand to stop him. Someday the US and Europe wil muster enough nerve to challenge these despotic killers in the Arab world. Until then, there will be many more innocents slaughtered.

[JavMD]

Duh... so what are you (United Nations) doing about it ? ? ! !

Least you could do is raise their membership fees !

WORTHLESS ORGANIZATION !