Syrian forces have killed more than 7,500 civilians since a revolt against President Bashar Al-Assad began, a UN official said Tuesday, and Hilary Clinton, the top US diplomat, suggested the Syrian leader may be a war criminal. The military again bombarded opposition strongholds, killing at least 25 people, Syrian activists said, though a wounded British news photographer managed to escape from the besieged city of Homs. “There are credible reports that the death toll now often exceeds 100 civilians a day, including many women and children,” UN Under-Secretary-General for political affairs Lynn Pascoe told the UN Security Council. “The total killed so far is certainly well over 7,500 people.” Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the world has to take action to prevent Syrian security forces from continuing their bombardments and other attacks against civilians, which she said had resulted in “countless atrocities” including the death of more than 500 children. The request for an urgent UN Human Rights Council debate and resolution on Syria was filed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Turkey. Pillay urged Syria to end all fighting, allow international monitors to enter the country and give unhindered access for aid agencies to enter Homs and other embattled cities. The appeal prompted a bitter riposte from Syria's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, who walked out of the room. As world dismay mounted over the bloodshed, France said the Security Council was working on a Syria resolution and urged Russia and China not to veto it, as they have previous drafts. A draft resolution supported by many Arab and Western nations says the Syrian regime's use of heavy artillery and tanks to attack civilian areas has contributed to the deaths of thousands. While the resolution is not expected to include a reference to the ICC referral, diplomats have indicated that this issue will be revisited next month. Meanwhile, France on Tuesday urged Russia and China to accept a new UN Security Council resolution on halting the violence in Syria to allow in humanitarian aid. “A resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire and access for humanitarian aid in the most threatened areas is under discussion at the Security Council. We can hope that China and Russia will not veto this resolution,” Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told RTL radio. “We hope that Russia and China will not oppose the adoption of this resolution on the free access of humanitarian aid to victims and that all members of the Security Council, without exception, will agree to end the barbarism,” foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero added. “The talks (on the resolution) should begin today in New York,” Valero said. “The text that is on the table calls in particular for a halt in the violence and immediate and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to the most threatened areas and most vulnerable people,” he said.
