France condemns Syrian ‘crimes’

7 September 2011 Last updated at 08:38 ET

Syria is engulfed in a cycle of protests, violence and funerals

France’s Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has accused the Syrian government of carrying out “crimes against humanity”.

Syrian forces are continuing their crackdown on protests, launching a new assault on the city of Homs and killing seven people, according to activists.

Residents said the centre of Homs was sealed off, phone lines had been cut and gunfire was ringing out.

More than 2,200 people have been killed in five months of protest against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

“The way [Syria has] suppressed the popular protests is unacceptable,” said Mr Juppe, according to the French AFP news agency.

He was speaking during a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

He said Syria could face further sanctions if it did not change course.

Last week the EU banned imports of Syrian oil – a decision criticised by Russia, which has been pressing calls for political dialogue.

The Assad government insists that the opposition protests are being organised by “terrorist cells” who are being armed and funded by an international conspiracy against Syria.

‘Non-stop gunfire’

Homs – Syria’s third-largest city – has seen rolling violence for months.

Wednesday’s large-scale security operation in the city involved tanks, troops and heavy gunfire, activists and locals said.

“All through the night, there was shooting. The gunfire didn’t stop,” a resident of the city told the Associated Press news agency by phone. “I can’t tell exactly what is going on because it’s too dangerous to go out.”

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven people were killed and 20 others wounded in the operation.

The latest reports suggest that Sunni parts of the city were targeted, says the BBC’s Owen Bennett Jones in neighbouring Beirut.

Most of Syria’s ruling establishment are Alawites, and Alawites also dominate the security forces, says our correspondent. Activists have previously reported the death of several Alawite residents in apparent revenge killings in the restive western city.

They have also reported an increasing number of defections among the mostly Sunni rank and file military in Homs and its surrounding countryside, but Syrian officials deny the claims.

Nabil al-Arabi’s visit was cancelled at the 11th hour

The government insists that it has a reform programme in place, but opposition leaders say there can be no free and fair elections while the ruling Baath party is in power.

They have also refused to negotiate while it continues to kill peaceful protesters.

On Wednesday there were reports Syria had called off a visit by the Arab League chief.

The government gave no explanation for the postponement of Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi’s trip, other than to say it was for “objective reasons”.

However, later reports said the Arab League chief would now visit – on Saturday.

The League has called for an end to the violence and spoken of the Syrian people’s legitimate aspirations for social and political reform.

Reports suggest Mr Arabi has some quite specific proposals, including the establishment of a multi-party government within three years.

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