Mood calls killings in Deir Ezzor 'appalling and inexcusable'

Damascus The UN observer mission chief in Syria, Major General Robert Mood, said on Wednesday he was “deeply disturbed” by the killing of 13 people in eastern Deir Ezzor, calling it an “appalling and inexcusable act.”

“Thirteen bodies were discovered last night [Tuesday] in the area of Assukar, 50km east of Deir Ezzor. All the bodies had their hands tied behind their backs and some appear to have been shot in the head from a short distance,” Mood said in a statement.

The veteran Norwegian peacekeeper said he was “deeply disturbed by this appalling and inexcusable act”.

The bodies were found days after at least 108 civilians were massacred in central Al Houla, including 49 children, sparking an international outcry and the expulsion of Syria’s top envoys from several Western countries.

Most of the victims of the Al Houla massacre were summarily executed, the UN rights body said on Tuesday. Witnesses have told UN investigators that the majority of deaths were at the hands of a pro-government paramilitary group.

Rupert Colville, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said preliminary figures showed that fewer than 20 of the 108 killings could be attributed to artillery and tank fire.