Nations warn Syrian government to declare truce or face trial

In a major development, governments across the globe, through their diplomats, are trying to press on President Bashar-Al-Assad of Syria to immediately stop violent crackdown on civilians. Till now, indiscriminate bombarding and firing by Syrian forces have taken the death toll to well above 7500. The Human Rights Commissioner of the United Nations’, Navi Pillay, has cautioned that if situation does not improve, the government of Syria would face International Criminal Court proceedings in the near term.

The United States state secretary Hillary Clinton has also condemned the action of Syrian government on Tuesday. She suggested that President Assad to be declared a war criminal or at least be forced to step down from power.

It is reported that months of government blockades have made life miserable, particularly in the cities of Homs and Hama. Essentials such as food, medical supplies and water have become scarce. With Syria crisis showing no sign of improving, there is little choice for people in both the cities between overflowing hospitals and makeshift clinics.

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.

Libya celebrates as son of Gaddafi is taken into custody

Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam, the onetime successor of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, is reported to have been nailed on Saturday by the Libyan militia fighters. The 39-year-old Saif has been captured along with his three bodyguards early morning near Awbari while trying to join his brother in Niger. He has been on the wanted list by International Criminal Court for months.

Presently, Saif al-Islam is under arrest in Zintan. While it is most likely that Saif would be handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes charges, but Zintan militia may want him to be brought to trial in his own country, Libya. This may take a few days to work out. But possibilities are that militia leaders in Zintan would like to cash on Saif’s capture and play hard for a big role in the new Libyan government.

Saif, the son of erstwhile leader Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, has been found slightly injured in the clashes, but otherwise he is in good health.

Libyans celebrated Saif al-Islam’s capture as thousands took to the streets and gun fires were shot to mark the occasion. Libyans were seen dancing and hugging each other, but, for once, nobody seemed to mind.