UN chief "especially concerned" over reports of children killed, tortured in Syria

English.news.cn 2011-06-07

UNITED NATIONS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon said on Monday that he was "especially concerned" about reports of children being killed and tortured in Syria where the violence is escalating.

"We previously noted the government's declaration of amnesty and call for dialogue," Ban said in his monthly press conference.

"Unfortunately, that has been overtaken by recent events. I am concerned about reports of children killed or tortured, such matters must be investigated thoroughly and their perpetrators brought to justice."

Ban called on the Syrian government to "respect the rights of its people."

Since the beginning of unrest in Syria in mid-March, hundreds of people, including security forces, have been killed. The authorities' reaction to the peaceful protests has evoked wide denunciation.

UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay last week strongly criticized Libya and Syria at a session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

European nations have urged the UN Security Council to warn Damascus that its crackdown could be a crime against humanity.

Additionally, Syria's official SANA news agency reported over the weekend that six Syrian people were killed and around 100 wounded by Israeli troops at Golan Heights.

"Regarding the weekend's shootings along the Golan Heights, let me emphasize the parties concerned share responsibility for preventing needless civilian death," Ban said.

SANA quoted Ali Kanaan, head of the Mamdouh Abaza Hospital in Quneitra province in southern Syria, as saying that his hospital received six bodies killed by Israeli troops and around another 100 who were injured, as they have been subject to direct gunfire and received bullets in the chest and other parts of the body.

The Israeli army used riot dispersal gear and opened fires, as several hundred protesters approached and tried to cross the fences along the cease-fire line between Israel and Syria in Golan Heights, shortly before noon on Sunday.

Editor: yan