SYRIA: As death toll soars, U.N. urges criminal review.
More than 5,000 people have died in the nation’s nine- month uprising, U.N. human- rights chief Navi Pillay said Monday.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights told reporters Monday that she relayed to Security Council members the dramatic increase in deaths during an afternoon briefing. The death toll used by the U.N. in recent weeks had been around 4,000.
Pillay said she recommended the council refer Syria to the International Criminal Court, the permanent war- crimes tribunal, for investigation of possible crimes against humanity.
Pillay said at least 300 children were among the dead.
EGYPT: Detained blogger’s case transferred.
Authorities on Monday transferred the case of a prominent blogger from state security prosecutors to investigative judges, a move that opens up the possibility of a trial in a civilian criminal court with the right to appeal, his lawyer and family said.
The detention of Alaa Abdel- Fattah, a well-known blogger and leader in the 18-day uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak in February, has elicited global condemnation.
Abdel-Fattah was detained Oct. 30 after refusing to answer questions about his alleged role in the clashes because he was interrogated and prosecuted by the military. He is accused of stealing a military weapon, destroying military property and attacking security forces.
LIBYA: Operational security forces expected in 100 days.
The country’s new leaders said Monday they hope to have a working army and police force operating in 100 days and that ministries would be relocated to cities nationwide in a bid to decentralize national authority.
National Transitional Council chairman Mustafa Abdul-Jalil told reporters in Tripoli that the timeline should suffice to restructure the nation’s security apparatus and build confidence in its forces.
But Gen. Khalifa Hifter, commander of the fledgling national army, said it will take at least three to five years before Libya will have an army strong enough to protect its borders.
Denver Post wire services
