Editor's note:
More than 108 civilians were killed in a massacre in the Syrian town of Houla on May 25. Among the victims 32 were children under the age of 10.
The bloodshed shocked the world and cast a shadow over the peace process of the Arab country that had been torn by domestic violence amid a 15-month-long political turmoil.
The killings sparked criticism of the Syrian government from the international community. Western and Arab states blamed the Syrian government for the tragedy in Houla. Major European countries decided to expel Syrian diplomats in a move to exert pressure on Syrian government and warned of further sanctions against the country. China condemned the cruel killings of civilians and urged an immediate political resolution for Syria through UN efforts, while opposing to military intervention backed by some Western countries.
International reactions:
"China feels deeply shocked by the large number of civilian casualties in Houla, and condemns in the strongest terms the cruel killings of ordinary citizens, especially women and children," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a daily news conference in Beijing.>>
French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday said military operation in Syria could not be ruled out to end the crisis in the country, but that it had to be backed by the UN Security Council. >>
"There is an urgent need for the international community to come together and further unify against the Assad regime in an effort to persuade the Assad regime and pressure and isolate the Assad regime to the point where that transition is allowed to fully take place," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. >>
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin said that all relevant parties should fully implement the UN Security Council's resolutions and support UN-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan's mediation efforts. >>
Diplomatic chaos:
French President Francois Hollande told reporters on Tuesday the Syrian ambassador would have to leave, as a part of France's "pressure tactics" against Syria. >>
The recent massacre in Syria's central village of Houla has hammered more nails into the coffin of the peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League joint special envoy Kofi Annan and opened the appetite of the super powers to divulge the possibility of military intervention in Syria had there be a consensus. >>
Latest development:
Head of the inquiry committee probing the controversial massacre of Syria's central village of Houla said Thursday that preliminary investigations indicated that 800 heavily armed men carried out attacks on government forces and slaughtered families in Houla. >>
