The sports category has moved to a new website.
ADVERTISEMENT

President says 'defending' Syria more important than any UN tribunal

His comments to Belgian media came as rights watchdog Amnesty International accused the regime of hanging 13,000 at an infamous prison near Damascus.

Asked whether he was concerned about a potential court case brought against the Syrian regime at the UN's highest court in The Hague, President Assad said he and other officials don't care

According to an English-language transcript of the interviews published by Syrian state news agency SANA on Tuesday, Assad accused UN institutions of acting unfairly towards his country.

"We all know that the United Nations institutions are not unbiased, they are biased because of the American influence and the French and British, mainly," he said.

"They are only politicized to implement the agenda of those countries," he added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Syria's conflict first broke out in March 2011 with widespread protests that descended into violence.

Asked whether he was concerned about a potential court case brought against the regime at the UN's highest court in The Hague, Assad said he and other Syrian officials "don't care".

"For me, as president, when I do my duty, the same for the government and for the army, to defend our country, we don't look to this issue, we don't care about it," he said.

"We have to defend our country by every mean, and when we have to defend it by every mean, we don't care about this court, or any other international institution," Assad added.

The UN General Assembly in December agreed to begin gathering evidence on war crimes in Syria as a first step towards prosecuting those responsible for atrocities there.

ADVERTISEMENT

At the time, Syria's Ambassador Bashar Jafaari slammed the measure, calling it a "flagrant interference in the internal affairs of a UN member-state."

But in a new report published Tuesday, Amnesty International said Syria's government had carried out a deliberate "policy of extermination" at the Saydanaya military prison.

The report found that as many as 13,000 people were killed in mass hangings at the facility between 2011 and 2015.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

President Ruto pens Easter message to Kenyans

President Ruto pens Easter message to Kenyans

NTSA suspends 2 popular PSV saccos with a fleet of over 200 vehicles

NTSA suspends 2 popular PSV saccos with a fleet of over 200 vehicles

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

ADVERTISEMENT