Churches call for an end to Syrian violence

Church leaders have joined together to call on the United Nations Security Council to condemn the Syrian regime and its state sanctioned attacks on its civilians. They are asking for an urgent UN resolution to be passed, to bring an immediate end to the atrocities.

On yesterday's one year anniversary of the Syrian uprising, The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church added their voices to a number of non-government organisations (NGO's) calling on the UN Security Council to show a united front against the Syrian regimes' violent actions.

In a statement, church leaders said: "We are dismayed by the Syrian Government's violent and unrestrained attacks on its own citizens, resulting in thousands of deaths and significant numbers of refugees flooding into neighbouring countries. Such action cannot possibly be justified."

They also express their deep concern for Christians in Syria, who are a minority, and urge believers across Britain to pray for an end to the bloodshed.

With no diplomatic solution in sight, the leaders of the churches state that: "we are concerned that, should diplomatic initiatives fail and the opposition groups achieve success in securing support for arms, the violence could escalate still further."

They are also urging for undivided support from the international community for UN Special Representative Kofi Annan, who is involved in an initiative with the Syrian government, sighting his work as 'crucial'.

The three churches are also weighing in on the pressure against Russia and China to concede their support for President Assad, thereby allowing the UN to block any further diplomatic and military support that the Syrian government will receive.

Since the violence in Syria began almost a year ago, the UN estimates that around 8,000 civilians have been killed. And with more than 23,000 Syrians having displaced, churches leaders have also said that: "all armed groups must allow unrestricted access of humanitarian agencies to those areas where people are currently without food, healthcare or education."