Hillary Clinton to meet Syrian opposition leaders in Geneva http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/8937317/Hillary-Clinton-to-meet-Syrian-opposition-leaders-in-Geneva.html Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, will travel to Geneva later today to meet Syrian opposition leaders in a gesture of support for the group following an eight-month crackdown by President Bashar al-Assad. 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. A top UN human rights forum recently condemned “gross and systematic” violations by Syrian forces, including executions and the imprisonment of some 14,000 people. Mrs Clinton is expected to speak with seven opposition members in Geneva, where she is to give a speech on human rights. It will be her second meeting with opposition members in six months, following a similar gathering in Washington in July. 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 try to pressure President Assad to end the violence. Syrian authorities say they are fighting foreign-backed “terrorist groups” trying to spark civil war who they claim have killed some 1,100 soldiers and police since March. US officials offered no further details on Mrs Clinton’s planned meeting, which will take place on the second day of a five-nation trip to Europe. |
