France urges Syria to renounce force against protesters

English.news.cn   2011-03-23

PARIS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- France condemned recent violence in Syria and urged the authority to renounce the use of force against protesters, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said Wednesday.

"France condemns the violence that resulted in deaths and injuries among the demonstrators last night in Daraa," he said at a regular press briefing.

"It (France) calls on Syria, as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights did yesterday, to conduct a transparent investigation into the events in recent days and to renounce any excessive use of force," Valero said, adding that France urged immediate political reforms in Syria.

Clashes erupted Sunday between the Syrian police and protesters after two young men were reportedly killed by the security forces in Daraa, 60 km south of Damascus, the Syrian capital.

Seven security force members also reportedly have been killed in the city.

Editor: Fang Yang