Syrian Gov't Condemns Horrible Crimes In Houla, Blames Al-Qaeda, Takfiris

Damascus, May 28, IRNA – The Syrian government on Sunday condemned the horrible crimes that took place in al-Houla. "We don't trade with the Syrian blood." “The government condemns the horrible crime that took place in al-Houla. Syria will assign an investigative committee on Houla massacre, to issue results within 3 days,” spokesman for the Syrian Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ministry, Jihad Makdissi said in a press conference. The Syrian government categorically rejects responsibility of the Syrian forces for the massacre that took place in al-Houla area in Homs Province. Makdissi condemned in strongest terms this terrorist massacre of Syrian civilians as he condemned at the same time accusations raised against Syrian forces. "The Syrian state is responsible for protecting civilians according to the constitution and Syria preserves its right to defend its citizens," he said. Makdissi said that no tanks or artillery units entered al-Houla town and the law-enforcement forces never left their positions, rather they were in a state of self-defense. "A military judicial committee was formed to conduct investigation and the results will be announced in three days," Makdissi added. The suspicious coincidence of the attacks with the visit of UN Special Envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, is a blow to the political process, said Makdissi, adding that the brutal killing doesn't belong to the ethics of the Syrian army. He said that those who commit murders are not members of the army but are the armed terrorist groups. The spokesman added that what happened doesn't serve the interest of the Syrian State. Makdissi said that there is no justification for carrying weapons against the dignity of the state whatever is the political excuse, indicating that the terrorism and crimes have increased since Syria's approval of Annan's plan because they don't want the plan to succeed. The spokesman said that the armed terrorist groups were responsible for than 3500 cases of violating Annan's plan, adding that "instability is a good environment for terrorists… there are al-Qaeda and Takfiris but we won't allow them to make use of this environment no matter how long the confrontation takes."/end