UN Security Council
Photo: AP
Security Council condemns Syria over Houla massacre
UN's principal body issues official censure of brutal shelling of civilians in Homs province
The UN Security Council on Sunday unanimously condemned the Syrian government for heavy-weapons attacks on the town of Houla.
At least 116 people, including dozens of children, were killed and over 300 were wounded in the massacre.
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"The Security Council condemned in the strongest possible terms the killings, confirmed by United Nations observers, of dozens of men, women and children and the wounding of hundreds more in the village of (Houla), near Homs, in attacks that involved a series of government artillery and tank shellings on a residential neighborhood," the non-binding statement said.
"The Security Council also condemned the killing of civilians by shooting at close range and by severe physical abuse," said the statement, which was read out after the council's three-hour emergency meeting by Azerbaijan's Deputy UN Ambassador Tofig Musayev.
Earlier, it was reported that while Britain and France had proposed issuing a press statement condemning the massacre, Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Alexander Pankin was reluctant to do so.
He told reporters Moscow was skeptical about suggestions that the Syrian government was behind the massacre.
Nevertheless, the UN Security Council's decision left no doubt as to the fact the United Nations hold Assad's regime responsible for the shelling on Houla.
Reuters contributed to this report
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