Security Council condemns violence, calls on protection of all Syrians without distinction

UNITED NATIONS, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council on Friday condemned recent mass killings of civilians in the deadly violence in Syria's coastal region, and urged the interim government to "protect all Syrians without distinction."

In a presidential statement adopted unanimously, the Security Council condemned the widespread violence in western Syria's Latakia and Tartus provinces since March 6, including mass killings of civilians among the Alawite community, "calling on the interim authorities to protect all Syrians without distinction."

It also condemned attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, urging all parties to immediately cease violence and inflammatory activities and ensure the protection of all civilian populations and infrastructure, as well as humanitarian operations.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, reported that nearly 1,500 people, including more than 1,000 civilians, have been killed in the violent escalation in the costal region since last week.

Underlining the urgency of inclusive, transparent justice and reconciliation in Syria, the council called for swift, transparent, independent, impartial and comprehensive investigations to ensure accountability and bring all perpetrators to justice, the statement said.

The 15-nation organ called on all states to respect Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and refrain from any action or interference that may further destabilize the country.

Furthermore, the council called for the interim government to engage in an inclusive political process led and owned by Syrians, facilitated by the UN and based on the related resolution. "This includes safeguarding the rights of all Syrians -- regardless of ethnicity or religion -- meeting their legitimate aspirations and enabling them to peacefully, independently and democratically determine their futures," the statement said. ■