An estimated 5000 deaths in Syrian uprising claims UN official

As gunshots and explosives continue to rip apart Syria, more than 5000 Syrians have lost their lives during the nine month long Syrian uprising. The figure, which is higher than the previous estimate last week, has been claimed by Navi Pillay, the United Nations human rights high commissioner, on Monday. On the other hand, there has been more than 1100 deaths of police and other security services personnel as claimed by the Syrian authority.

As local elections are being held in Syria, low turn-out has been reported all around despite government’s claim to name Monday’s election as an act of “democracy and free will.” As it seems, elections have failed to put a halt on frequent security clampdown which has turned more brutal in the recent months. Syrian government have criticized the violence on peaceful activists as an act of “armed terrorist” and claimed no role in recent Syrian unrest. The opposition parties refused to believe the government's stand and demanded mass election boycott.

The United Nations human rights chief, Navi Pillay, has criticized the brutal suppression of civilians in Syria as ‘crime against humanity.’ She further stated that such actions need to be referred to the International Criminal Court.