Syrian forces may face prosecution for Houla killings: U.N. rights chief

The U.N.’s top human rights official said on Friday that the Syrian forces and allied “shabbiha” militia who stand accused of committing a massacre in Houla may be liable for prosecution for crimes against humanity.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay also called for the international community to support the Syria peace plan and a probe into the killing of more than 100 civilians in Houla last week.
Pillay, in a speech read out on her behalf to a special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, said: “These acts may amount to crimes against humanity and other international crimes and may be indicative of a pattern of widespread or systematic attacks against civilian populations that have been perpetrated with impunity.”
Pillay, a former war crimes judge, added: “I reiterate that those who order, assist or fail to stop attacks on civilians are individually criminally liable for their actions.”
Pillay said that without this the country risks descending into a full civil war.
The 47-nation U.N. Human Rights Council is meeting in Geneva on Friday to discuss the situation in Syria for the fourth time since the start of violence last year.
European nations are pressing for a draft resolution to propose a war crimes probe into the Houla killings.
Other countries including the United States back the condemnation of Syria but are resisting a specific reference to the International Criminal Court.

Source: Al Arabiya With Agencies