Syria Death Toll Over 5,000, German Foreign Minister Says

NEW YORK (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Monday he understood 5,000 people had now been killed in Syria's crackdown on a nine-month-old uprising - a higher figure than other recent estimates.

"I am really shocked about what I heard about the atrocities in Syria. Five thousand people were killed, civilians, people who ask for their freedom and civil and human rights," he told reporters.

Westerwelle was speaking after talks in New York with U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay, but did not specifically say she had cited that figure. Pillay was due to brief the U.N. Security Council on Syria later in the day.

Pillay's latest public estimate - earlier this month - was more than 4,000 killed.

German officials said Westerwelle had intended to say 5,000. (Reporting by Patrick Worsnip; editing by Anthony Boadle)

Timeline of events in Syria:

Comments

[irwinrsteffy]

02:48 PM on 12/13/2011

They want war with Iran, over false pretenses of course, just like in Iraq. Take out another secular ally of Iran, further isolate them, and the dumbed down herds will never know the difference.

[redhead46]

01:10 PM on 12/13/2011

The world can not stay quiet we all must stand up and not allow bullies to continue to hurt their own people!!!!

[Views from the Middle]

02:25 PM on 12/13/2011

Like China? Like the Davis campus police?

[irwinrsteffy]

02:46 PM on 12/13/2011

I see you are falling for the agitpropaganda. Well, safety in numbers. lol

[redhead46]

12:56 PM on 12/13/2011

Assad is killing people because no one is stopping him. This is like hitler announced to the world what he was doing to jews and all non german people and and know one did anything until millions had died a horrible death! I can't believe the Arab league is not helping there own people. Why did we help Iraqi people, Lybia people and on and on but not Syrian people.... no oil interest....

[jerzyboy349]

11:30 AM on 12/13/2011

What? No flotilla to Latakia? Why is the left so "selective" about their causes?

[lacabrera]

11:16 AM on 12/13/2011

That's 5,000 less muslims that we have to worried about !

[redhead46]

01:23 PM on 12/13/2011

its 5000 people not muslims their Gods people just like we are no matter what religion!

[flying hawk]

03:23 PM on 12/13/2011

Not people savage's.Remember when they laughed at 9/11 and named their spawns
(children) Osama. Now I laugh at them.

[harkone75]

11:12 AM on 12/13/2011

Obama needs to stay out of this conflect. Let some other country help this time. I think the American people have had enough of these useless wars. No matter how much blood our troops shed in these areas it will not matter...they will hate us in the end anyway. Just watch and see what happens in Lybia.

[shyhon]

01:12 PM on 12/13/2011

I second you thoughts.

[flying hawk]

03:23 PM on 12/13/2011

Ditto

[Tuula Westra]

10:52 AM on 12/13/2011

5000 deaths in 9 months, in the USA in 9 months, (43 murders a day) makes 11.610, why to count Syrian murders when they are doublestrong in everybodys hometown.

[merretthughes]

04:03 PM on 12/13/2011

great post tuula, glad someone else sees through the media' bull as the hype up more warfare.

[SunCity85373]

10:24 AM on 12/13/2011

Thaat is more than we lost in Iraq... a lot of lives

[dhormachea]

01:46 PM on 12/13/2011

My thought, exactly.

[connieusa27]

02:53 PM on 12/13/2011

gee, and Iraq was started over phony israel intelligence.

[rsticks18]

09:40 AM on 12/13/2011

the syrian govt is just a puppet for iran.

[percy frazer]

03:56 PM on 12/13/2011

And the US government is just a puppet for Israel. lol

[mlfertig]

09:06 AM on 12/13/2011

When the Syrian President was interviewed on ABC? last week he lied thru his teeth about all the killings..and the man REALLY appeared to be in a trance like state like he was on some mind altering or sedating type drugs to keep him for acting like the violent despot he really is

[RustyDowell]

07:15 AM on 12/13/2011

No worries, The US will not go there, No oil and they have nukes

[Rick Huggins]

07:50 AM on 12/13/2011

Who has nukes? If you mean Syria, it's in your imagination.

[irwinrsteffy]

02:45 PM on 12/13/2011

Israel has nukes and they won't allow inspectors in.

[flying hawk]

03:27 PM on 12/13/2011

would you ??????????????????????????????????????????????????

[phil schuyler]

03:54 PM on 12/13/2011

They don't have to, irwin - theyr'e special. lol

[dterraman]

06:44 AM on 12/13/2011

maybe we should offer our blood and treasure to kill more of those people for their own good.....not

[bypie6]

06:35 AM on 12/13/2011

I wonder how many millions --- and I definitely mean millions --- of innocent people were slaughtered by the U.S. military during the late 1950s thruout the 1970s during the so-called "Vietnam" war?
Remember that this so-called "Vietnam" war was taken over by the U.S. during the late 1950's after the defeat of the French in what was then called "Dien Bien Fu" (or something like that) by the U.S. military which was a "secret war" then.
This was involved not only Vietnam, but Cambodia & Laos where millions were slaughtered over 20 years by U.S. bombings, including Agent Orange, etc.
Come on now, people. Don't you dare come to the rest of world --- as the ancient Pharisees did to confront Jesus Christ with their hypocricies --- with your own bloodied hands.

[Truwriter]

08:43 AM on 12/13/2011

Amazing how easily liberals have become pro war, pro military interventions, pro oil, pro fascism.

[shyhon]

10:39 AM on 12/13/2011

Your statistical deaths are close to correct-attributing them strictly to the US is not. The number of deaths, both of North and South Viet Nam are from combatant and non-combatants. The causalities are counted as a result of all participants in the war.
You are correct-we never should have been there. President Kennedy was planning our withdrawal when he was assassinated. Newly sworn in President Johnson ramped up involvement and military appropriations till we were in up to our neck.
My brother was in Cambodia, with Agent Orange dropping on them from the trees, while back in the US, LBJ was vehemently denying our presence there. My brother has been very ill from the poison for many years. Others died of cancers and weird intestinal conditions.
America needs to stay out of other countries conflicts. All of them. If it doesn't involve America directly, we don't need to be there.
One more thing. In life, those who have made the mistakes are very often in the best position to advise and caution others. America must get over this crusade to be the world's policeman. We must harden our hearts when other countries beg us to intervene on their behalf. No good has ever come out of it for us. Just more loss of life,loss of money and the World's disdain.
Who needs it.

[flying hawk]

03:29 PM on 12/13/2011

Kennedy? I doubt it

[wakohnen]

06:32 AM on 12/13/2011

If history is any clue, NATO and the US are quietly planning an operative, possibly on the Jordanian border. If the Syrian government collapses it would open the back door to Iran. Not that I have any evidence of this but I would not be suprised.

[kent hoover]

08:50 AM on 12/13/2011

There is no plan to invade, the becon of freedom is extinguished, like the rest of America we are sick of nation building. Besides I'd rather have lower taxes.

[Omega2012]

02:35 AM on 12/13/2011

A lot of hate here Huf Posters.....a lot of hate.

SUPPORT DEFECTORS & THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY!

"The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of Patriots and Tyrants." Thomas Jefferson

[labuyu]

04:08 AM on 12/13/2011

The tree of Liberty....do you mean like in Egypt and Libya, oh yeah Muslim clerics and Sharia Law seem to their destiny. I do not see Syria being any different.

[Truwriter]

08:43 AM on 12/13/2011

Iran is building its empire.

[mlfertig]

09:03 AM on 12/13/2011

Thank you for that much needed comment SHARIA LAW is the true goal ..if thats what thye want ,lrt them have it..and good luck withit too