Hague 'concerned' at Syria deaths

30 April 2011 Last updated at 16:59 GMT Mr Hague said those responsible for the violence would be held personally to account Foreign Secretary William Hague has expressed concern at "credible" reports that more than 500 people have been killed in ongoing violence in Syria.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 539 people have been killed since protests calling for political reform began on 15 March.

Mr Hague said the Syrian government needed to respond with "reform not repression".

President Bashar al-Assad's government blames extremists for the unrest.

Activists say at least six people were killed by security forces in the southern city of Deraa on Saturday.

They also said more than 60 protesters were killed across the country on Friday - more than half of them in Deraa.

Officials said the number of dead was far lower, and included four soldiers. They say 80 security personnel have been killed in the unrest.

Foreign journalists are not being allowed into the country, and the exact picture of what is happening remains unclear.

International community

In a statement released on Saturday, Mr Hague said he was "extremely concerned by ongoing violence and repression."

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I welcome the EU's decision to accelerate work on targeted measures against those responsible”

End Quote William Hague Foreign Secretary "There are credible reports that over 500 people have been killed in recent weeks," he said.

"The Syrian government has failed to heed repeated calls by the international community for restraint. As I have stressed it is vital to respond with reform not repression."

On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council condemned the violence, in a US-led resolution by 26 votes to nine with seven abstentions.

The council, based in Geneva, said it would ask the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to dispatch a mission to investigate "all alleged violations of international human rights law and to establish the facts and circumstances of such violations and of the crimes perpetrated".

Nations demanded that President Assad's government stops the violence, releases political prisoners and lifts restrictions on the media and access to the internet.

Mr Hague welcomed the UN resolution and also the European Union's decision to launch an arms embargo against Syria and to review all EU co-operation with the country.

"We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that those responsible for the violence are held personally to account," he added.

"In this context, I welcome the EU's decision last night to accelerate work on targeted measures against those responsible. The United Kingdom will again be in the forefront of pushing for such measures."

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Hague judges await Taylor apology

11 February 2011 Last updated at 09:08 GMT Charles Taylor is accused of selling "blood diamonds" from Sierra Leone Judges at the war crimes trial of Liberia's former President Charles Taylor are waiting to see if he will apologise as ordered for walking out earlier this week.

Defence sources say Mr Taylor will continue his boycott but his lawyer will appear.

The judges have said they could impose sanctions if lawyer Courtenay Griffiths does not apologise for walking out.

Mr Taylor denies 11 counts - including murder, rape, and using child soldiers.

Mr Taylor is accused of arming and controlling the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone during a 10-year campaign of terror conducted largely against civilians.

The RUF became infamous for hacking off the limbs of their victims, and using rape and murder to terrorise the population.

The trial started in June 2007. Mr Taylor also boycotted the opening, arguing he would not get a fair trial.

Friday was due to be the last day of the trial but the defence did not make its closing arguments as expected on Wednesday, so it is not clear what will happen.

Continue reading the main story 1989: Launches rebellion in Liberia1991: RUF rebellion starts in Sierra Leone1995: Peace deal signed1997: Elected president1999: Liberia's Lurd rebels start insurrection to oust Mr TaylorJune 2003: Arrest warrant issuedAugust 2003: Steps down, flees to NigeriaMarch 2006: Arrested, sent to Sierra LeoneJune 2007: Trial opens in The HagueMr Taylor and his lawyers are upset at the court's refusal to accept a 500-page written summary of the trial that was submitted late.

"What we were trying to do is ensure we get some semblance of justice out of this and it's turned into this personalised attack on us," Mr Griffiths told reporters outside the court on Wednesday. "I find it totally despicable."

The defence has argued that Mr Taylor tried to broker peace in Sierra Leone at the request of regional powers.

He is accused of selling "blood diamonds" for the rebels, in return for supplying them with weapons.

Last year supermodel Naomi Campbell and actress Mia Farrow were summoned to give evidence at the trial.

The prosecution was trying to establish a link between Mr Taylor and a number of uncut diamonds that Miss Campbell said she had been given in South Africa in 1997.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague has heard from more than 100 witnesses in what is the first international trial of an African former head of state.

The judges are expected to deliver a verdict later in the year.

If convicted, Mr Taylor would serve a prison sentence in the UK.

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