UN to try again over Syria crisis

THE United Nations Security Council will meet again to discuss Syria today as international efforts continue to ratchet up pressure on the country’s president in the wake of the massacre of more than 100 people, including women and small children.

Yesterday David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague were involved in high-level international talks to secure backing for a fresh UN Security Council resolution against president Bashar Assad’s regime.

The Foreign Secretary flew to Moscow for talks with opposite number Sergei Lavrov to try to secure Russian backing for a resolution and to warn of the danger of “all-out civil war” in the Middle Eastern state. But continuing differences between Russia and the West surfaced, as Mr Lavrov said it appeared both the regime and rebel forces had a hand in the bloodshed and declined to join in calls for Assad to stand down.

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Syria’s claims that its troops came under attack from heavily-armed rebels and were not to blame for the massacre in the town of Houla have otherwise been given short shrift, including by the UN, which has accused the Assad regime of “an outrageous use of force”.

The regime’s charge d’affaires in London was summoned to the Foreign Office for a dressing-down over what political director Sir Geoffrey Adams described as “a sickening and evil crime” which had cost the lives of 108 people, including 49 children and 34 women.

Sir Geoffrey told the Syrian diplomat Britain wanted all those responsible to be identified and held accountable and warned of “further quick and robust action” from the international community unless all military operations ceased immediately.

Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, who is acting as the international community’s envoy on Syria, also voiced his personal horror at the killings, as he visited Damascus for face-to-face talks with Assad. Mr Annan called on the regime to halt violence and urged “every individual with a gun” to lay down their arms.

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Mr Cameron and French President Francois Hollande discussed the situation by phone, reaffirming their “full support” for Mr Annan’s six-point peace plan, which envisages a truce leading to dialogue between the government and opposition aimed at a Syrian-led political transition.

The Prime Minister and Mr Hollande agreed the Friends of Syria Group should meet in Paris, and said they wanted to work with Russia to find a resolution to the crisis.

Mr Lavrov voiced Moscow’s support for the Annan plan, but made clear that Russia is not seeking Assad’s removal, telling a press conference: “For us it’s not the most important thing who is in power in Syria. For us the main thing is to provide for the end of all violence.”

Russia, which has a naval base in Syria, has repeatedly shielded Damascus from action by the UN Security Council during the year-long uprising which has cost up to 15,000 lives.

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Speaking alongside Mr Hague, Mr Lavrov said Moscow wanted Syria to sort out its problems “without foreign interference” and stressed the need to respect its “territorial integrity” .

Foreign Office minister Lord Howell yesterday told Parliament there had been a change in the Russian position, but it was unclear whether Moscow would back a fresh UN resolution.

The Security Council meeting today will be followed by a report on Wednesday from Mr Annan.

Downing Street said the Syrian authorities treated the ceasefire initiated last month by the former UN chief with “contempt”.

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Mr Hague, MP for Richmond, acknowledged Britain and Russia had not always seen eye-to-eye on Syria, but characterised the discussions with Mr Lavrov as “good and frank and honest”.

Denis MacShane: Page 11.