BRUSSELS: The European Union called on Monday for a peaceful political transition in war-torn Syria after the ouster of Bashar al Assad by rebels. "Now more than ever, it is imperative that all stakeholders engage in an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned dialogue on all key issues to ensure an orderly, peaceful and inclusive transition," the 27-nation bloc said in a statement. The EU said it was "critical to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria and to respect its independence, its sovereignty, as well as state institutions, and to reject all forms of extremism". "We urge all actors to avoid any further violence, to ensure the protection of civilians and to uphold international law, including international humanitarian law," the statement said. It called for the "protection of members of all minorities, including of Christian and other non-majority confessions, as well as the safety of foreign nationals and respect of diplomatic representations in Damascus".
The end of Assad's rule follows a 13-year-old civil war sparked by a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests. The war killed more than 500,000 people and forced half the pre-war population to flee their homes, many millions of them abroad. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen held talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II about the situation on Monday and said she would talk to other regional leaders in the coming days.
Meanwhile, any political transition in Syria following the fall of president Bashar al Assad must include accountability for him and others behind crimes committed under his rule, the UN rights chief said on Monday. "Any political transition must ensure accountability for perpetrators of serious violations and guarantee that those responsible are held to account," Volker Turk told reporters in Geneva. His comments came after Assad fled Syria as rebels swept into Damascus, triggering celebrations across the country and beyond at the end of his rule.
Syria's war has killed more than 500,000 people and forced half of the population to flee their homes. Turk described "the most serious human rights violations... including torture and the use of chemical weapons". The sudden and dramatic shift in Syria brought "hope that this would be an opportunity for the country to build a future grounded in human rights, freedom and justice", Turk said. He added that "reform of the security apparatus will be key". "This transition must also ensure that the tragedy of missing people is addressed," he said, pointing out that more than 100,000 people had disappeared during the civil war. Highlighting that hostilities were still reportedly ongoing in parts of Syria, Turk said it was "imperative that all parties abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law". In particular, he said, "all measures must be taken to ensure the protection of all minorities, and to avert reprisals and acts of revenge". — AFP
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