Syrian FM denies Houla killings
- 12 years ago
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Syrian protesters were out in force to denounce the brutal deaths of at least 109 people in the community of Houla on Friday.
The video, reportedly of demonstrators in Douma on Saturday, shows people in the streets chanting that they will not forget the men, women and children of Houla, who they claim were killed by Syrian government forces.
On Sunday, Syria's foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi vehemently denied the allegations.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, JIHAD MAKDISSI, SAYING:
"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."
Members of the international community condemned the massacre responsible for the deaths of at least 32 children.
On Sunday, U.N. observers headed to Houla to investigate the killings after officials confirmed the use of artillery tank shells.
Opposition groups and human rights activists have criticized the U.N.-brokered ceasefire that has done little to prevent bloodshed between rebel and government forces in recent months.
Jessica Gray, Reuters
Syrian protesters were out in force to denounce the brutal deaths of at least 109 people in the community of Houla on Friday.
The video, reportedly of demonstrators in Douma on Saturday, shows people in the streets chanting that they will not forget the men, women and children of Houla, who they claim were killed by Syrian government forces.
On Sunday, Syria's foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi vehemently denied the allegations.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, JIHAD MAKDISSI, SAYING:
"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."
Members of the international community condemned the massacre responsible for the deaths of at least 32 children.
On Sunday, U.N. observers headed to Houla to investigate the killings after officials confirmed the use of artillery tank shells.
Opposition groups and human rights activists have criticized the U.N.-brokered ceasefire that has done little to prevent bloodshed between rebel and government forces in recent months.
Jessica Gray, Reuters