Britain welcomes UN call on Assad to end human rights violations

British Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed Wednesday the United Nations General Assembly call for Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad regime to end human rights violations. In a statement, Hague said: "Last night the United Nations General Assembly adopted a new resolution on the human rights situation in Syria". He welcomed the overwhelming support that this Arab-led resolution secured. The widespread and systematic human rights violations being committed by the Syrian regime and its militia are absolutely appalling and deserve the strongest condemnation, Hague emphasized. The resolution also rightly condemns instances of human rights abuses carried out by the armed opposition. "40,000 people have now died in Syria, and each day brings news of fresh atrocities. I particularly condemn the shelling by Syrian regime forces of a hospital in Aleppo last week which killed five civilians; the reports that 10 children were killed when the regime dropped cluster bombs on a nursery school in Damascus province; and the regime's use of arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances and sexual violence", the statement noted. The minister called on the Syrian regime to put an immediate end to such human rights violations and attacks against civilians. In addition, he urged all sides to put an end to the violence and to pursue a process of genuine political transition to meet the demands of the Syrian people for a free Syria. Meanwhile, Hague voiced his full support to the UN Commission of Inquiry's call for human rights violations and abuses to be thoroughly investigated. The UK is intensifying its support to human rights activists in Syria to report on human rights violations and abuses, he pointed out. It is important to document these atrocities for future prosecutions, including possible action at the International Criminal Court, the minister affirmed.