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UN: Syria Now a 'Civil War'

Because so many soldiers are defecting army

By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 1, 2011 11:51 AM CST

(Newser) – Words that describe the situation in Syria: conflict, uprising, revolt ... civil war? The latter now applies, according to the UN's top human rights official. Navi Pillay today said that more than 4,000 people are dead, though "really the information coming to us is that it's much more than that." But the civil war description stems from the fact that more and more soldiers are abandoning the army and taking up arms against President Bashar Assad's regime, reports the AP.

Says Pillay, "As soon as there were more and more defectors threatening to take up arms, I said this in August before the Security Council, that there's going to be a civil war. And at the moment that's how I am characterizing this."

Pro-Syrian regime protesters, wave a giant Syrian flag during a demonstration against the Arab League decision to suspend Syria, in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday Nov. 13, 2011.
Pro-Syrian regime protesters, wave a giant Syrian flag during a demonstration against the Arab League decision to suspend Syria, in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday Nov. 13, 2011.   (AP Photo/Muzaffar Salman)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
The_Truth
Dec 1, 2011 9:57 PM CST
Actually Syria is battling an insurgency. Bashar al-Assads forces are fighting heavily armed terrorists from neighboring countries funded by the CIA. There have been confirmed reports that they are killing soldiers and taking their uniforms to use as they slaughter civilians to make it look like it's Assads forces.
ZakuDoom
Dec 1, 2011 2:09 PM CST
Ya think?  Now the UN can stick their nose into it, yay more conflict.....
finkster
Dec 1, 2011 12:01 PM CST
"UN: Syria Now a 'Civil War" Oh Goody!!!.....now we can invade them and declare it as humanitarian reasons.. Hey, America...if you really want your government to pay attention to you instead of every other country.... Start a "Civil War"
 

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