Syria Massacre Draws International Condemnation

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov has expressed strong condemnation over the killings of innocent civilians by Syrian regime forces. Photo by BGNES

The massacre of 92 civilians, including 32 children younger than 10, by government forces in Syria has drawn international condemnation.

Troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad raided the town of Houla, north-west of Homs, after an anti-government demonstration on Friday, murdering men, women, and children.

The killings were officially confirmed by international observers in reports of international news agencies.

"Bulgaria strongly condemns the killings of innocent civilians carried out by Syrian security forces in the town of Houla," Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov says in a statement.

"We were shocked by the report of over 90 victims of the Syrian army, including many children, killed in an attempt of the armed forces to stamp out the protest of its compatriots. This is why we insist that France urgently summon the Friends of Syria group, which was agreed at the last meeting in Istanbul," the media statement says.

Kuwait, current president of the Arab League, said it would hold an emergency meeting on the atrocities in Syria.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, which brings together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, urged the international community to assume its responsibilities to halt violence in Syria.

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius vowed Saturday to take immediate steps to organize a meeting of the "Friends of Syria" group in Paris.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council this week.

EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton said she was "appalled by the reports of the brutal massacre" and demanded that the Syrian regime cease all forms of violence immediately and stick to the UN peace plan.

US State Secretary Hilary Clinton also condemned the bloodshed, saying that Washington would cooperate with its international allies to step up pressure on President Bashar al-Assad.

A joint statement from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan defined the assault as an "appalling and brutal crime," and a "flagrant violation of international law" and demanded that that those responsible should be held to account.

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