UN rights body votes for end to Syria's crackdown

The United Nation's (UN) top human-rights body voted overwhelmingly yesterday to demand that Syria end its bloody crackdown and cooperate with an international probe into possible crimes against humanity.

The UN Human Rights Council voted 33-4 to condemn the violence by Syrian authorities, strongly underscoring the growing international isolation of President Bashar al-Assad, and dispatch a human rights team to probe alleged atrocities since March.

The countries voting in favour included all four Arab voting members of the council, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Russia and China voted against, along with Cuba and Ecuador.

The remaining countries on the 47-nation council abstained or were absent.

Western diplomats quickly capitalised on the resolution's strong support and the symbolism of the council's Arab members voting in favour of it.

US Ambassador Eileen Donahoe said the broad consensus shows the extent to which Assad has become isolated.

Slaughtered

"We will not stand by silently as innocent civilians and peaceful protesters are slaughtered by security forces," she said. "We have not been fooled by empty promises of reform and engagement."

Jeremy Browne, a junior British Foreign Office minister, said the resolution also sends "a clear message to the Syrian regime that the brutal repression must stop and that those responsible for the violence will be held to account for their crimes".