UN released resolution on Syria to protect civilians

The U.S., Turkey and Qatar pushed through a UN resolution Wednesday demanding a probe into the fighting around the Syrian town of Qusair, near Lebanon, and condemnation of foreign fighters supporting President Bashar Assad.

The resolution approved by a vote of 36-1 in the UN Human Rights Council calls for urgent investigation into alleged abuses by government forces and Hezbollah fighters in Qusair, along with more aid access and civilian protections. Only Venezuela voted against it. Eight other nations in the 47-nation council abstained; two were absent.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay set the tone for the debate, saying Syria’s civil war is “spilling out of control” and represents a failure to protect citizens against war crimes and crimes against humanity that are now a routine occurrence.