Syrian rebels gives government deadline

Thu, 31 May 2012 01:04:12 -0500

(CNN) -- Syrian military defectors issued the government a Friday deadline to cease fire, pull out troops from residential areas and allow humanitarian aid.

The Free Syrian Army did not say what will happen if the government fails to comply with the 48-hour deadline.

"Our national, moral and humanitarian duty make it necessary for us to defend and protect our civilians and their cities, towns, blood and dignity," the group said in a statement.

The statement comes amid an international outrage over Friday's massacre in Houla that left more than 100 people dead, many of them children.

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said it was carried out by Shabiha militias or local gangs acting on behalf of the regime.

Syria has repeatedly denied government involvement. Bashar Jaafari, the nation's U.N. ambassador, said the government will finish its investigation into the massacre this week.

"And all of us will know for sure the identity of the perpetrators," he said.

Since the conflict began, the government has said "armed terrorist groups" are to blame for violence against civilians.

Alex Thompson, chief correspondent for Channel 4 News, who visited Houla expressed skepticism about the government's claim.

"The question you have to ask is, 'How was it 100 armed militia were able to come in and slaughter family after family, in an area which was an intensive shelling zone prior to them arriving, and yet when they came in the area, no shells fell on them?'" he told CNN's "AC360" on Wednesday night.

The new wave of killings highlight a conflict spiraling out of control as the call for President Bashar al-Assad's ouster that began in March 2011 has intensified into an armed insurgency.

The United Nations estimates 9,000 people have died since the protests began, while activist groups put the death toll at more than 11,000.

Opposition activists have reported clashes almost daily, with regime forces and police shelling a Homs neighborhood Thursday, said the Local Coordination Committees of Syria.

A day earlier, at least 74 people were killed, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, another opposition group

In addition, 13 bodies bound and shot were discovered in eastern Syria on Tuesday night, the head of the U.N. observer mission said. CNN cannot confirm death tolls or reports of violence from Syria because the government limits access to the country by foreign journalists.

In the wake of the latest violence, international pressure against the regime mounted.

Twelve nations -- the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Bulgaria, Turkey and Canada -- have announced that they are expelling Syrian diplomats.

In retaliation, Syria told the Dutch charge d'affaires to leave.

Russia called the expulsions of Syrian diplomats "counterproductive," saying a U.N. Security Council statement this week condemning the incident was "a strong enough signal" to the warring sides.

China and Russia have reiterated their rejection of any military intervention in the nation. As permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, both have used their veto powers previously to block two resolutions against al-Assad, saying more balanced resolutions are needed.

CNN's Amir Ahmed and Faith Karimi contributed to this report.

Houla visit

Wed, 30 May 2012 20:51:40 -0500

British journalist Alex Thomson describes his journey into the Syrian town of Houla, now infamous for the recent massacre which left more than 100 people dead, many of them women and children. FULL STORY

Shabiha militia to blame?

Wed, 30 May 2012 20:49:57 -0500

CNN.com - Top Stories

Syrian rebels gives government deadline

Houla visit

Shabiha militia to blame?