UN: Syria death toll reaches 9,000 people killed
Syrian refugees look through barbed wire today from the Syrian side at the border between Syria and Turkey.
NEW YORK – Tracking a death toll headed skyward, the UN said today that more than 9,000 people have now been killed by the Syrian government in its military campaign against a rebellious population, according to Reuters.
The new death toll marked an increase of 1,000 people killed over a previous UN estimate.
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The news came as Damascus had reportedly accepted a peace plan advanced by Kofi Annan, the UN’s and Arab League’s Syria envoy.
"Violence on the ground has continued unabated, resulting in scores of people killed and injured," Robert Serry, UN special coordinator for Middle East peace, was quoted as telling the Security Council here.
"Credible estimates put the total death toll since the beginning of the uprising one year ago to more than 9,000," he was quoted as saying. "It is urgent to stop the fighting and prevent a further violent escalation of the conflict."
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The Agence France-Presse news agency also reported today that a draft resolution expected to be advanced at an Arab League summit in Baghdad this week would call on Syria to end the violence and engage in “serious national dialogue.”