The Syrian government has killed at least 2,600 people since protests began in the country on March 15, the United Nations reported on Monday. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay provided the figures during an address to the Human Rights Council. The figure represents a significant increase since August, when the UN estimated that 2,200 had died since the government began violently cracking down on dissent. An aide to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was quick to counter the UN figures Monday, saying that only 1,400 have died. Syrian government spokesman Bouthaina Shaaban says the casualties have been evenly split, with 700 government forces and 700 opposition activists having been killed. Although the protests have been widely peaceful, Damascus accuses the activists of using violence, claims denied by protesters. Meanwhile, the United States has condemned the killing of prominent Syrian human rights activist Ghiyath Mattar, who died last week while in the custody of Syrian security forces. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland denounced what she called the “despicable violence” of the Syrian regime, again reiterating the US call for President Assad to step down. Assad has been facing growing international pressure to curb the violence. Last week, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev indicated Moscow may be willing to consider a UN Security Council resolution that sends a “strong message” to Assad. BM
