UN's Pillay renews demand for Syria war crimes case

UN rights chief Navi Pillay on Friday renewed a demand that the divided Security Council order an International Criminal Court war crimes investigation in Syria. Her call added to a petition by 58 countries calling for a war crimes case to be started. But Pillay said after a closed council meeting that she saw little sign that the 15-member body, badly split over the 22 month old conflict, was ready to take a decision. "I firmly believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed, are being committed and should be investigated," Pillay told reporters. "I have urged the Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court for investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity on the part of all parties engaged in this conflict," she added. Highlighting the UN estimate that more than 60,000 people have been killed in Syria, Pillay said victims in Syria "see the situation as the United Nations not carrying out its responsibility to protect victims." Syria is not an ICC member and the Security Council is the only body which can refer the conflict to the court. Russia and China have used their power as permanent members of the Security Council to block three resolutions which would have threatened sanctions against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and in some cases a war crimes case. Diplomats at the council meeting said there was discussion of the calls for an ICC investigation but still opposition from Russia and its allies. Ambassadors from council members Australia, Britain, France, Luxembourg, South Korea spoke after the meeting to back the petition drawn up by Switzerland calling for the investigation.