SYRIA: Authorities deny carrying out massacre after at least 109 civilians are killed in central town of Houla, and condemn recent kidnapping of Lebanese pilgrims

Record ID: 280795

  • Title: SYRIA: Authorities deny carrying out massacre after at least 109 civilians are killed in central town of Houla, and condemn recent kidnapping of Lebanese pilgrims
  • Date: 28th May 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (MAY 27, 2012) (REUTERS) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, JIHAD MAKDESI, DURING NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS REPORTER WRITING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, JIHAD MAKDESI, SAYING: "We firmly deny the responsibility of government forces in this massacre that has occurred. We strongly condemn this terrorist massacre that targete
  • Embargoed: 12th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADOMZRR35K91GGV67BK0YMBYVS
  • Story Text: Facing growing world outrage over the killing of at least 109 civilians killed in the central town of Houla, Syrian officials on Sunday (May 27) accused rebels of carrying out the massacre, in which dozens of children perished.
    The Houla massacre is among the worst carnage in the 14-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.
    Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdesi told reporters in Damascus it had not been carried out by the Syrian army.
    "We firmly deny the responsibility of government forces in this massacre that has occurred. We strongly condemn this terrorist massacre that targeted in a clearly criminal way Syria's people: women, children and old men," Syrian Makdesi said.
    Makdesi said the massacre was carried out by "terrorists" after fighting between rebels and forces loyal to Assad.
    "There has been a quantitative improvement in the (weaponry) used in the conflict in Syria. The weapons being used (by the rebels) are not small arms; there are mortars and the newest thing is the use of anti-tank missiles. This is new to the confrontation facing Syrian government forces," he said.
    Makdesi announced that a committee will be formed in order to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
    Houla is a cluster of Sunni Muslim villages 20 kms (12 miles) north of the city of Homs, a centre of the uprising against Assad's rule.
    The area is near a region inhabited by members of Assad's minority Alawite sect that has been acting as a hub for pro-Assad militiamen, activists say.
    Opposition activists in Homs said the killing started when Syrian troops and militiamen loyal to Assad, known as shabbiha, stationed at roadblocks that surround Houla, fired heavy machineguns at a demonstration in the area on Friday, killing five people.
    Free Syrian Army rebels responded by attacking two roadblocks manned by Assad's loyalists, the activists said.
    Makdesi also condemned the recent kidnapping of a group of Lebanese Shi'ites in Syria.
    Lebanon announced on Friday (May 26) they had been freed and were safe in Turkey but had been delayed for "logistical reasons."
    Makdesi condemned the kidnappings and asked for an explanation of where the hostages had ended up:
    "We condemn this act and we will not hold back any effort to help see the return of them (the hostages) safely to their homes. Also, there is a question that should be asked of the countries and all parties that are helping (the hostages) and that is, how has this matter been left?"
    The kidnap drama inflamed political tensions in Lebanon, a country divided between foes and friends of the uprising in Syria.
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