WORLD_ SYRIA_ Syrian president Bashar al-Assad accused of war crimes by UN human rights chief Navi Pillay

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad accused of war crimes by UN human rights chief Navi Pillay

By Middle East correspondent Hayden Cooper, wires
Updated 35 minutes ago
ABC NEWS


United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay says evidence collected during Syria's civil war implicates president Bashar al-Assad in war crimes.


For months, UN investigators have been examining the actions of both sides in the Syrian conflict and now Ms Pillay has given a glimpse of what they have found.

"They point to the fact that the evidence indicates responsibility at the highest level of government, including the head of state," Ms Pillay told a news conference.

The Syrian government has already been accused of war crimes by UN figures, but this is the first time a senior UN official has extended the accusation to Mr Assad himself.

Later when Ms Pillay was asked to clarify her remarks, she said: "Let me say that I have not said that a head of state is a suspect. I was quoting the fact-finding mission, which said that based on their facts, responsibility points at the highest level."

Ms Pillay has been given a secret list of suspects for safe storage, in the hope that one day they will face trial for mass killings and torture.

She says the investigators have found evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Ms Pillay wants the UN Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court - a move that China and Russia are unlikely to allow.

"Accountability should be key priority of international community, and I want to make this point again and again as the Geneva 2 talks begin," she said.

"I reiterate my call to all member states to refer the situation to the ICC."

The Syrian government was quick to dismiss Ms Pillay's accusations.

"She has been talking nonsense for a long time, and we don't listen to her," Syrian deputy foreign minister Faisal Mekdad said.

'Starvation as method of warfare'

Both the Syrian government and opposition groups appear to be imposing sieges on contested areas as "a form of collective punishment", in violation of international humanitarian law, she said.

"Starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited," she said.

"Now I mentioned some of these very serious factors, because as we look at the indictments before the International Criminal Court, these are some of the acts for which leaders have been indicted."

Ms Pillay says world powers should make accountability for crimes committed in the civil war a priority ahead of Syrian peace talks set for January 22.

The question of whether Mr Assad can remain in power after the fighting stops has been one of the major areas of disagreement between the United States and Russia, the two main sponsors of the peace talks.

But the Syrian government has said Western countries that want Mr Assad to step down should either stop dreaming or forget attending the January peace talks.

The brutal civil war has dragged on for two and a half years and one report out today says the death toll has hit 125,000.

More on this story:
 * US offers navy ship to help destroy Syria's chemical weapons
 * Syrian war damaging a generation of children, UN warns
 * Assad regime commits to attending Syrian peace talks
 * More than 11,000 children killed in Syrian conflict: report
 * Explainer: Syria's opposition parties explained

ABC/Reuters



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