Syria violence condemned by UN
As Britain plays down the likelihood of military intervention in Syria, the UN has condemned the ongoing violence which human rights groups say has killed 400 people.
UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon has called for an “independent and transparent” investigation into the violence against protesters in Syria.
Human rights groups in Syria estimate around 400 people have been killed since the start of the unrest.
After briefing the security council behind closed doors, Ban Ki-Moon condemned the “continuing violence against peaceful demonstrators, most particularly the use of tanks and live fire that have killed and injured hundreds of people”.
Mr Ban told reporters Syrian authorities must protect civilians and respect human rights.
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Ban Ki-Moon said there needed to be an “independent, transparent and effective investigation” into the violence.
Reports emerging from Syria suggest government forces are continuing to suppress protests despite international condemnation.
Syria rejected calls for an outside investigation saying it was “perfectly capable of conducting its own transparent inquiry”.
Syria’s UN envoy, Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari, said: “We can undertake any investigation by our own selves with full transparency.”
UN Security Council members have so far failed to agree on a statement condemning Syria’s government.
Britain puts pressure on Syria
Defence Secretary Liam Fox has played down the prospect of a Libya-style military intervention in Syria – saying there were “practical limitations” on how much the UK and allies could do.
He urged the regime in Damascus to “pause and reflect” about the consequences of its bloody repression of protests amid widespread condemnation and the threat of sanctions.
But he warned people not to expect a similar intervention to the Nato-led operation against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces if the diplomatic effort failed to halt the violence.
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Dr Fox spoke out after talks with his US counterpart Robert Gates in Washington – saying Syria’s future should be decided by its people, not a “despotic regime”.
It came shortly after Foreign Secretary William Hague indicated that sanctions would be imposed if President Bashar Assad failed to commit to “radical reform”.
UK diplomats are also trying to negotiate a joint statement with United Nations partners condemning violence in the troubled Middle East state.