was endorsed back in January and until quite recently Assad was defined as a reformer, by Hillary Clinton.
Mar 28, 2011 12:01 AM ET
Clinton said the elements that led to intervention in Libya -- international condemnation, an Arab League call for action, a United Nations Security Council resolution -- are “not going to happen” with Syria, in part because members of the U.S. Congress from both parties say they believe Assad is “a reformer.”
“What’s been happening there the last few weeks is deeply concerning, but there’s a difference between calling out aircraft and indiscriminately strafing and bombing your own cities,” Clinton said, referring to Qaddafi’s attacks on the Libyan people, “than police actions which, frankly, have exceeded the use of force that any of us would want to see.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-27/u-s-won-t-intervene-in-syria-unrest-clinton-says-on-cbs.html22 March 2011
UN human rights office voices concern at recent events in Yemen, Bahrain and Syria
OHCHR is also greatly concerned by the recent killings of protesters in Syria and reiterated the need to put an immediate halt to the excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, especially the use of live ammunition.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37847&Cr=protests&Cr1=Statements by the UN Official
26 March 2011
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay
Syria's violent repression of protests risks fuelling further anger - UN official
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37905&Cr=Syria&Cr1=March 29, 2011, 2:16 PM EDT
Singapore’s Ambassador Vanu Menon said the Asian Group of nations endorsed Syria before the latest unrest began and will support its candidacy unless another country bids for a seat.
India, Indonesia and Philippines are the other Asian nations seeking seats on the Human Rights Council.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-29/syria-seeking-seat-on-human-rights-council-at-un-amid-turmoil.htmlAP) – Apr 18, 2011
The Associated Press: US official: US opposes Syria for UN rights body
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hRFNaf65wu22urXigL92ZtW3CRPw?docId=f2a7c4ef87c54f4a8095e1399757550fCampaign to bar Syria from UN human rights body
Snip* Since the 53-member Asian Group endorsed its slate — which also includes India, Indonesia and the Philippines — for the council in January, rights groups and some governments have engaged in a behind-the-scenes effort to keep Syria off the council.
Those efforts have gathered steam since a crackdown on pro-democracy protests since mid-March has left more than 350 dead and hundreds wounded, diplomats said.
One diplomat involved in the process, speaking on condition of anonymity because the consultations are private, said he was confident that another country would be found to contest the election but declined to say which countries were being pursued.
Diplomats in Geneva were also scrambling to find a way to stop the violence in Syria, including counting potential votes to see if the Human Rights Council can call a special session later this week to address the crisis.
Read more:
http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Campaign-to-bar-Syria-from-UN-human-rights-body-1352342.php#ixzz1KgFJff1p