CRISIS

U.N. Chief Condemns Syria

Says Assad regime has likely committed crimes against humanity.

As President Bashar al-Assad’s Army continues to shell the city of Homs, Navi Pillay, the U.N.’s high commissioner for human rights, condemned the Syrian government for its indiscriminate attacks on civilians and said it’s likely the government has committed crimes against humanity. Pillay also blasted the U.N. Security Council for its inability to act on the issue, saying the foot-dragging has emboldened the Syrian regime. An estimated 6,000 people have died since Assad began cracking down on dissidents in March 2011. Activists believe more than 500 have died this past week in Homs, the most recent center of the violence. Both Russia and China blocked the U.N. from acting, leaving dozens of countries frustrated that they can’t do more to stem the fighting. With the risk of a humanitarian crisis rising, the Arab League has asked the U.N. to partner on a peacekeeping mission in Syria.