UN weighing urgent debate on Syria, Ban warns of Hezbollah's intervention in Qusayr

The United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed on Monday his deep concern regarding Hezbollah’s participation in the Syrian crisis, in particular the clashes taking place in the town of Qussair, and called on political parties to adhere to the Baabda declaration.       

In a statement issued by his spokesperson Martin Nesirky, UN’s Ban called on all forces to act in a responsible manner, reiterating his rejection to the transfer of arms and fighters from "outside Syria to either side inside Syria".
         
The Unites States, Qatar and Turkey have asked the U.N.'s top human rights body to hold an urgent debate on the ways to end the civil war in Syria, and to hold accountable those responsible for killing thousands of civilians.
     
Syria's Ambassador Faysal Khabbaz Hamoui objected to Monday's request, saying it comes from nations that support the rebels who have been battling the regime of Syria's President Bashar Assad since March 2011.
    
U.N. Human Rights Council President Remigiusz Henczel says the council will decide Tuesday whether to hold the debate Wednesday.
    
The U.N.'s top human rights official, Navi Pillay,  said the Syrian government continues to use "indiscriminate and disproportionate force in residential areas" and to directly target schools and hospitals. She said that rebels were also committing "wanton human rights violations."


AP/LBCI