Syria must guarantee safety of observers and journalists

News item | 12-01-2012

Foreign minister Uri Rosenthal is deeply concerned about the growing violence in Syria. Yesterday, a French journalist was killed and a Dutch journalist injured in a mortar attack in the city of Homs. The minister has called on the Syrian authorities to investigate the full facts of the attack. The Dutch ambassador in Damascus is in touch with the injured Dutch journalist.

The minister has also condemned yesterday's attacks by supporters of President Assad on observers from the Arab League. The Syrian authorities are not only responsible for the safety of foreign journalists and the protection of free news gathering; they also have a duty to create the conditions necessary to enable the Arab League observers to fulfil their mission.

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