USA: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the reported torture of a 13-year old Syrian boy shows the Syrian government is ignoring people's pleas and suggests President Assad's hold on power weakens

Record ID: 279044

  • Title: USA: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the reported torture of a 13-year old Syrian boy shows the Syrian government is ignoring people's pleas and suggests President Assad's hold on power weakens
  • Date: 1st June 2011
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MAY 31, 2011) (REUTERS) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON AND COLOMBIA FOREIGN MINISTER MARIA ANGELA HOLGUIN WALKING TO PODIUMS TO BEGIN BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON SAYING: "With respect to Syria, I too was very concerned by the reports about the young boy. In fact I think I think what tha
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4ULFXKJD18L6PA0ULZNBRYY4U
  • Story Text: The reported torture of a Syrian boy shows the "total collapse" of Syrian authorities' willingness to listen to anti-government protesters, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday (May 31).
    In some of her harshest comments about Syria's crackdown on the protests, Clinton suggested the Assad government's hold on power was weakening.
    The New York Times reported on Monday (May 30) that an online video showed a 13-year-old boy, arrested at a protest on April 29, who it said had been tortured, mutilated and killed before his body was returned to his family.
    "I can only hope that this child did not die in vain but that the Syrian government will end the brutality and begin a transition to real democracy," Clinton told a news conference.
    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has sought to crush 10 weeks of protests against his 11-year reign with a military crackdown in which rights campaigners say 1,000 civilians have been killed and more than 10,000 people arrested.
    Clinton said she was "very concerned" by reports about the 13-year-old boy, whom she identified as Hamza Ali al-Khateeb.
    "I think what that symbolizes for many Syrians is the total collapse of any effort by the Syrian government's to work with and listen to their own people," Clinton said, appearing with Colombia's visiting foreign minister.
    "Every day that goes by the position of the government becomes less tenable and the demands of the Syrian people for change only grow stronger," Clinton said.
    "President Assad has a choice, and every day that goes by the choice is made by default. He has not called an end to the violence against his own people, and he has not engaged seriously in any kind of reform efforts," she added.
    Activists said at least five people were killed on Tuesday when tanks shelled the central town of Rastan and security forces stormed Hirak, a town in the southern Hauran Plain where the uprising first broke out in mid-March.
    Syria blames the violence on armed groups, Islamists and foreign agitators, saying more than 120 police and soldiers have been killed in the unrest nationwide.
    Clinton opened the news conference with Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin by commending Colombia for "bold steps."
    "President Santos and his government are taking bold steps to heal Colombia's wounds, redress grievances, consolidate democratic freedoms and promote human rights," Clinton said.
    Holguin thanked the U.S. for backing its efforts to curb the drug trade and terrorism.
    "I believe that the successes Colombia has had in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking is due to U.S. support. We have well-trained police. We have one the strongest military forces in the region," Holguin said.
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