Foreign Secretary condemns 'shocking and appalling' new Syrian massacre
Foreign Secretary William Hague said the time has come for "decisive diplomatic action to bring about a peaceful end to the violence".
Reacting to reports of the massacre in Syria yesterday the Foreign Secretary said:
“The reports of a massacre in the town of Traymseh in Hama district are shocking and appalling.
“More than 200 men, women and children appear to have been killed in this latest atrocity. Everything we have seen of the Syrian regime’s behaviour over the last seventeen months suggests that these reports are credible. They demand a united response from the international community.
“We have two urgent priorities - to establish an accurate account of what happened in Traymseh so that those responsible can and will be held to account; and to agree urgent action at the United Nations Security Council.
“To that end, the UN Mission in Syria must be able to access Traymseh quickly and without hindrance so they can carry out an independent investigation into what has happened and who is responsible.
“And we will redouble our efforts to agree a Chapter VII Resolution of the United Nations Security Council. This would compel the Syrian regime to fulfil the commitments it has made under the Annan Plan, to withdraw its military from residential areas, and establish a transitional government as called for by Kofi Annan and endorsed by the P5 and Arab League. It should be a legally binding Security Council Resolution with teeth, that creates a trigger for sanctions if the Assad regime does not comply. British diplomats in New York will continue negotiations on a Resolution at the Security Council today.
“Our thoughts are with the Syrian people, and all those who have suffered as a result of this latest atrocity. More than 17,000 people have died already. The time has come for decisive diplomatic action to bring about a peaceful end to the violence. All members of the Security Council must shoulder their responsibility to bring this about.”