Intervene to safeguard Syrian lives, UN is urged

The call came as the UN’s Human Rights Council announced the appointment of a special investigator to examine the crisis which has seen violence spread across the country.

Activists yesterday claimed November was the deadliest month in the eight-month-long uprising, with an estimated 950 people killed in clashes.

The UN now estimates more than 4,000 have been killed since the revolt began in mid-March.

“The Syrian authorities’ continual ruthless repression, if not stopped now, can drive the country into a full-fledged civil war,” warned UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay. “The international community needs to take urgent and effective measures to protect the Syrian people.”

Syria’s ambassador to the council told delegates its problems would only be deepened by if the international community became involved. Delegates from China and Russia also warned against the use of force.

International intervention, such as the Nato action in Libya that helped topple Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi, is all but out of the question in Syria. But the European Union, Arab League, Turkey and others have piled on sanctions aimed at crippling the regime.

Royal Dutch Shell also said yesterday it would halt its operations in Syria to comply with the sanctions.

These will limit the regime’s access to cash at a time when president Bashar al-Assad is relying more than ever on the support of the business classes.

Despite yesterday’s diplomatic squeeze, violence continued.

The most serious unrest was reported in the town of Talkalakh, where witnesses told of more than six hours of explosions and gunfire starting at 3am. It is within walking distance from Lebanon, and at least two people were struck by bullets on the Lebanese side. They included an 11-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man, Lebanese officials said.

On Friday, Russia’s ambassador Valery Loshchinin, claimed opposition groups in Syria were being armed and organised from abroad.