[Flaka]

DEIR EZZOR, Syria -- UN observers Wednesday reported the discovery of 13 bodies in eastern Syria, with many of the victims found to have bullet wounds to the head from gunshots inflicted at close range.

The bodies were found in Assukar, about 50 miles from the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, late Tuesday. All of the bodies were discovered with their hands tied behind their backs.

The head of the UN supervision mission in Syria, General Robert Mood, said in a statement that he was "deeply disturbed by this appalling and inexcusable act."

Mood also called upon "all parties to exercise restraint" in Syria and to "end the cycle of violence for the sake of Syria and the Syrian people."
Wednesday's discovery follows global condemnation of the massacre in Houla on Friday. More than 100 people, mostly women and children, died in the central town.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that some 30 people also died in ongoing fighting in Syria on Tuesday, as Western nations joined forces to condemn the regime of President Bashar al Assad.

Syria's top diplomat in Washington, charge d'affaires Zouheir Jabbour, was given 72 hours to leave the US. The UK also expelled Syria's top diplomat to London.

The expulsions were part of a coordinated decision by concerned nations to expel Syrian diplomats in response to the Houla deaths.

On Wednesday, Turkey joined in the condemnation by ordering all Syrian diplomats in the country to leave within 72 hours. "It is out of the question for us to remain silent and not respond to this action which constitutes a crime against humanity," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.
Japan also asked Mohamed Ghassan al Habash, the Syrian ambassador to Tokyo, to depart "as soon as possible."

The US continued the diplomatic offensive Wednesday by slapping sanctions on the Syria International Islamic Bank (SIIB).

The move is supported by Qatar, the US Treasury said, adding that the SIIB acted as a front for the Commercial Bank of Syria, allowing it to circumvent sanctions already put in place by the US, European Union and the Arab League.

Also Wednesday, the official SANA news agency reported that a "terrorist group" attacked an oil pipeline in Deir Ezzor. The attack -- reportedly the second recent strike in the region -- saw "a terrorist group armed [with an] explosive device" set fire to the pipeline.

Some 13,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in Syria since the uprising against Assad's regime began in March last year.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/interna...#ixzz1wMlOH47L

[Steve]

Thirteen people die so we kick out a few diplomats, wow.

[whoreofbabalon]

Actually, it's 13,000.

[Steve]

In total true.

[wujuan]

[Faline]

Someone needs to save Syria

[k_dub]

Life is a nightmare