LEBANON: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah calls for a political solution in Syria. Recent video obtained by Reuters show civilians grappling with aftermath of assault on Homs

Record ID: 280439

  • Title: LEBANON: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah calls for a political solution in Syria. Recent video obtained by Reuters show civilians grappling with aftermath of assault on Homs
  • Date: 16th March 2012
  • Summary: HOMS, SYRIA (MARCH 11, 2012) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS ) MILITARY VEHICLE IN IN KHALIDIEH NEIGHBOURHOOD IN HOMS WITH THE OPPOSITION SYRIAN FLAG ON TOP REBEL DRIVING ARMOURED MILITARY VEHICLE DAMAGED TOP FLOORS OF BUILDINGS RUBBLE ON THE FLOOR VARIOUS OF DAMAGED HOMES BAGS AND BOXES OF FOOD TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO NEEDY FAMILIES BEING ASSEMBLED BY ACTIVISTS
  • Embargoed: 31st March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon, Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA6J6NYDGN4YAR3WXI5O95KM9DD
  • Story Text: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called for an end to violence in Syria on Thursday (March 15), which marks one year since the start of a bloody revolt, calling on ''all Syrians to lay down their arms and turn to a political solution.'' Nasrallah, a strong supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad whom protesters want to step down, said he condemned recent killings reported in the central Syrian city of Homs.
    Dozens of civilians in Syria's flashpoint city of Homs were killed in cold blood last week, the government and opposition agreed last Monday (March 15), but disputed responsibility for what both sides called a massacre. Nasrallah said the government should carry out an investigation into the killings.
    ''The bleeding should stop, what we have seen on television in recent days, we cannot but condemn. Any form of massacre and targetting of civilians and innocent people is condemned. The opposition accused the regime and the regime accuses the opposition, and one of the responsibilities of the regime today is to present the truth to the people,'' Nasrallah said in an address broadcast to supporters via videolink and carried by Hezbollah's Al Manar TV station.
    ''Our advice to all Syrians is to lay down their arms and turn to a political solution. The Syrian regime is ready to make reforms and approved a new constitution," he said.
    In Homs, video obtained by Reuters showed aftermath of the government's month-long assault with many buildings left with gaping holes and apartment floors covered in rubble.
    At one field hospital, wounded children received medical treatment to injuries.
    In Khalidieh neighbourhood, where the video was filmed, there were still signs of the rebel Free Syria Army that was forced to push back from another neighbourhood in Homs which was battered in February, Baba Amr.
    Despite a crumbling economy and tightening sanctions, Assad still seems to have significant support within Syria, notably in its two top cities - Damascus and Aleppo. His ally Iran also remains supportive, anxious not to lose its main Arab friend.
    Diplomats say the fighting is developing along sectarian lines. The Sunni Muslim majority, who make up 75 percent of the population of 23 million, is at odds with Assad's Alawite sect, which represents 10 percent but controls the levers of power.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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