‘No military solution to Syrian conflict’- Brazil
August 24, 2013, 1:43 pm

A picture distributed by activists in the city of Arbeen shows families identifying kin killed by the alleged chemical weapons attack [AP]

The Syrian opposition has accused President Bashar al-Assad’s forces of using chemical weapons, an accusation denied by the Syrian government.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called upon the international community to make efforts to end violence in Syria, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

“The Brazilian government expresses its condolences to and solidarity with the families of the victims and endorses the calls made by the UN and the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights about the urgent establishment of an independent investigation process,” said the statement.

Brazil has stressed on an “inclusive political process, led by the Syrian people”.

Brazil had abstained on the UN security council resolution authorising military intervention in Libya in 2011.

In November 2011, Brazil had circulated a concept paper that elaborates on the notion that “the international community, as it exercises its responsibility to protect, must demonstrate a high level of responsibility while protecting” or what came to be known as RWP.

Brazil’s position on Syria is echoed by BRICS who have maintained the bloc’s “opposition to any further militarization of the conflict”.

“A Syrian-led political process leading to a transition can be achieved only through broad national dialogue that meets the legitimate aspirations of all sections of Syrian society and respect for Syrian independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty,” read a BRICS statement during the 5^th BRICS Summit in Durban earlier in March.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Angela Kane, UN high representative for disarmament affairs reached Syria to push for access to the suspected attack site for UN inspectors.

Syrian state media reported on Saturday that government forces discovered chemical weapons in rebel tunnels in a suburb of Damascus.

According to a Reuters report, the US on Friday has started repositioning naval forces in the Mediterranean “to give President Barack Obama the option of an armed strike on Syria”.

Obama had said in 2012 that the use of chemical weapons would be a “red line” in the Syrian conflict.

According to UN figures more than 100,000 people have been killed since the unrest began in Syria more than two years ago.

With inputs from Agencies