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    October 06, 2011

Clinton: UN Security Council Failed Syria

   VOA News

   U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the U.N. Security Council
   has failed in its responsibility by not passing a resolution condemning
   Syria for its brutal crackdown on civilian protesters.
   Without mentioning Russia and China by name, Clinton said Wednesday the
   two countries would have to explain their vetoes "to the Syrian
   people."
   Moscow and Beijing blocked a resolution Tuesday written by France,
   Britain, Germany and Portugal, sparking U.S. and European outrage. The
   watered-down measure contained only possible references to sanctions
   against Syria if Damascus pursues its military crackdown on pro-reform
   protesters.
   Earlier Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé angrily
   denounced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as a "dictator who is
   massacring his people" and vowed support for Syrians attempting to
   overthrow the authoritarian leader.
   U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said the international community has a "moral
   obligation" to prevent further bloodshed in Syria, while Turkish Prime
   Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government will impose its own
   sanctions on Damascus.
   But an aide to the Syrian president told the French news agency that
   Russia and China stood "with the Syrian people" and provided the time
   needed for the government to "enforce and enhance reforms."
   Syria has been using military force to crush almost seven months of
   opposition protests demanding an end to Assad's 11-year autocratic
   rule.
   The United Nations says at least 2,700 people have been killed in the
   crackdown against pro-reform protesters and a growing cadre of military
   defectors.
   Turkey has provided refuge for several Syrian dissidents. A Syrian
   officer who found refuge there and heads the opposition Free Syrian
   Army said a brutal crackdown last week in Rastan was an operation to
   capture him.
   Colonel Riad al-Asaad says he defected in July after refusing to follow
   Syrian government orders to shoot protesters. He says his opposition
   group now has more than 10,000 defectors.

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References

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