More than 4,000 people have died since protests broke out in March against the Assad family's 41-year rule, according to the United Nations (UN).
The UN's top human rights forum has condemned "gross and systematic" violations by Syrian forces, including executions and the imprisonment of some 14,000 people.
Syrian authorities say they are fighting foreign-backed "terrorist groups" trying to spark civil war who have killed some 1,100 soldiers and police since March.
US officials said Mrs Clinton will meet seven opposition members in Geneva, Switzerland, where she is to give a speech on human rights.
The United States, the European Union and Turkey have all imposed sanctions on Syria for the violence and the Arab League has announced plans to do so to try to pressure Assad to end the violence.
Syria said on Monday that it conditionally accepts observers as part of an Arab plan, as a rights group reported militiamen loyal to the regime had killed 34 civilians and dumped their bodies in a city square.
The Arab League, which has threatened to impose new sanctions on Damascus if it fails to comply with the plan for monitors, said it was considering the Syrian offer to allow them into the troubled country.
Syria had initially refused to sign an Arab proposal to send in observers to monitor its forces.
But in a letter sent to the Cairo-based Arab League late on Sunday as a deadline set by the organisation was due to expire, President Assad's regime said it will accept the monitors if its conditions are met.
"The Syrian government responded positively to the signing of the protocol" on sending observers "based on the Syrian understanding of this cooperation," Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi said.
No comments:
Post a Comment