Journalist killed in Syria - Marie Colvin
Photo: EPA
Syria: We're not responsible for journalists' deaths
Regime claims it was not responsible for the deaths of two Western journalists who 'sneaked' into the country as UN alleges that violence comes from 'highest levels'
The Syrian regime claimed it was not responsible for the deaths of two Western journalists who "sneaked" into the country, the foreign ministry said today.
"We reject statements holding Syria responsible for the deaths of journalists who sneaked into its territory at their own risk," said a ministry statement read out on state television.
Related stories:
Meanwhile, the United Nations claimed on Thursday that Syrian forces have shot dead unarmed women and children, shelled residential areas and tortured wounded protesters in hospital under orders from the "highest level" of army and government officials.
Independent UN investigators called for perpetrators of such crimes against humanity to face prosecution and said they had drawn up a confidential list of names of commanding officers and officials alleged to be responsible.
"The commission received credible and consistent evidence identifying high- and mid-ranking members of the armed forces who ordered their subordinates to shoot at unarmed protestors, kill soldiers who refused to obey such orders, arrest persons without cause, mistreat detained persons and attack civilian neighborhoods with indiscriminate tanks and machine-gun fire," investigators said in a report to the UN Human Rights Council.
The commission of inquiry, headed by Brazilian Paulo Pinheiro, found that rebel forces led by the Free Syrian Army had also committed abuses including killings and abductions, "although not comparable in scale".
Reuters and AFP contributed to the report
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
