UN Inaction on Syria 'Unacceptable'- MEP Casoulides

European Parliament MP Yiannis Casoulides has criticised UN inaction on human rights abuses in Syria as 'unacceptable' in a European Parliament plenary session.

During a discussion on developments in the Arab world held Wednesday July 6th, Casoulides said that "international human rights laws are above any narrow interpretation of non-intervention in states internal affairs."

The Cypriot vice-president of the centre-right European People's Party urged Russia and China to withdraw their opposition and allow the UN Security Council to condemn the violence against Syrian society by the Syrian government.

The Syrian people must "enjoy the freedom of assembly, expression and peaceful protest," said Cassoulides.

Although Syrian President Assad has promised reforms, his security forces continued their violent crackdown on anti-government protestors yesterday. At least 22 people were killed in the city of Hama, according to reports by Agence France Presse.

Casoulides also commented on Yemen, saying that ex-president Saleh should not be allowed to return and highlighting the poor living conditions of Shiites in a rich country as the main cause of unrest in Bahrain.

The MEP said he fully supports France's air drops of weapons to rebels in Libya, saying that the sooner Gaddafi withdraws from power the better.