Russia Accuses the West of Exploiting Syrian U.N. Deal

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 DAMASCUS, Syria-Accusations of exploitation have been directed towards the U.S. and other major Western players involved in dealing with Syria’s chemical weapons.  Russia has claimed that the West is using the chemical weapons deal in the United Nations to threaten force against President Bashar al-Assad.

Lavrov and Kerry discussing Syria on Sunday.

The U.S., France, and Britain are pushing for a council resolution of the United Nation’s Charter, which if passed would authorize military intervention or sanctions if Damascus were to back out of its commitments.

The first commitment issued to Assad by the U.S.-Russia accord was met with compliance when he provided information about Syria’s chemical arsenal to the United Nations.  However, major powers on the U.N. Security Council have been in disagreement with how to further proceed.

Russia and China have blocked three draft resolutions on Syria since the start of the 2011 uprising against Assad.  Both countries oppose Western threats against an ally which Moscow has continually armed and supported during the civil war.

“They [the West] see in the U.S.-Russian deal not a chance to save the planet from significant quantities of chemical weapons in Syria, but as a chance to do what Russia and China will not allow, namely to push through a resolution involving the threat of force against the regime and shielding the opposition,” stated Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Lavrov further claimed, “An international presence is needed on the perimeters of the areas where the experts will work.  We are willing to send our troops and military police to participate.”

Lavrov concluded saying, “I do not think that there is a need for a major contingent.  I think military observers will be sufficient.”

In responses, a U.S. State Department official reported that other council member states of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had not yet seen the information regarding the chemical weapons status in Syria.  “We will make an evaluation of the document after it has been distributed to member states,” said the official.

Should the council resolution be passed, the world would see the destruction of nearly 1,000 tons of mustard gas, VX, and sarin which are believed to be in the possession of Syria.  The U.S.-Russia accord has also shown promise of a revised international political solution to the Syrian conflict as a whole.

For more information, please see the following: 

Aljazeera-Russia says West exploiting Syria deal-September 22, 2013

Reuters-Russia says West exploiting Syria deal to threaten force-September 22, 2013

Voice of America-Lavrov: US Trying to Blackmail Russia on UN Syria Resolution-September 22, 2013

Voice of Russia-Russian foreign chief Sergei Lavrov says US ‘overtly blackmailing’ Moscow on Syria-September 21, 2013

Most Nairobi Mall Hostages Rescued

By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – Most of the hostages caught in the Nairobi mall attack in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, have been rescued. Kenya’s military reported that it has secured “most parts” of the upscale shopping mall where al-Qaeda linked militants armed with assault rifles and grenades killed 68 people in an attack and two-day siege.

Military and police trying to capture the gunmen (photo courtesy of AP)

The assault began before sundown on Sunday.

The militants are believed to be from Somalia’s al-Shabab movement. Now only a small number of hostages remain under the control of the militants.

“All efforts are underway to bring this matter to a speedy conclusion,” the government’s defense forces statement reported.

Officials have not immediately released the number of hostages that were rescued or the number of hostages that remain in the mall. Four Kenyan military personnel were wounded in the rescue operation, the military said.

Many of the rescued hostages, mostly adults, were suffering from dehydration, a military spokesman told The Associated Press. The military spokesman, Col. Cyrus Oguna, also refused to release the number of hostages rescued or that remained, but did state that some of the attackers had “most probably” been killed in the operation.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the attackers “ruthless and completely reckless terrorists.” Kerry spoke Sunday with Somalia’s foreign minister and U.N. ambassador.

There are now reports that the gunmen are currently holed up in a supermarket. Civilians in the complex are believed to be held as hostages or in hiding.

Correspondents say the full extent of the attack will not be known until the military is back in control.

The BBC’s Gabriel Gatehouse says he cannot see or hear anything that suggests a “final push” by security forces that surround the complex.

The Somali militant group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility on Twitter for Saturday’s attack, which was allegedly carried out by 10 to 15 gunmen with AK-47s and other sophisticated weapons. Al-Shabaab, which said the attack was retribution for Kenyan forces’ 2011 push into Somalia, threatened more violence.

“The Mujahideen entered #Westgate Mall today at around noon and are still inside the mall, fighting the #Kenyan Kuffar inside their own turf,” the group said on Twitter.

“What Kenyans are witnessing at #Westgate is retributive justice for crimes committed by their military,” the group said.

Some witnesses said the militants released Muslims, but non-Muslims were targeted.

This is one of the worst incidents in Kenya since the attack on the U.S. embassy in 1998.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News – Nairobi Westgate attack: ‘Most hostages are rescued’ – 22 September 2013
Huffington Post – Most Nairobi Mall Hostages Rescued, Kenyan Army Says – 22 September 2013
USA Today – Kenya military says most hostages rescued in mall siege – 22 September 2013
Ryot – Kenya Military Says Most Hostages Have Been Rescued Following Bloody Attack at Westgate Mall (GRAPHIC PHOTOS) – 22 September 2013
Chicago Tribune – Kenya says it’s in control of Nairobi mall, ‘most’ hostages freed – 22 September 2013
CNN – 39 killed and more carnage feared as Kenya mall attackers face off – 21 September 2013

Dozens Killed in Nairobi Mall Attack

By Erica Smith
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 68 people were killed and 200 wounded in a terror attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi this Saturday and Sunday.

Kenyan police officers search for gunman in the Westgate Mall (photo courtesy of The Guardian)

The attack started around lunch time yesterday when grenades were thrown into the crowd. Lunch time is peak foot time traffic at the mall. After the grenades were thrown gunman started firing indiscriminately into the panicked crowd. Shoppers took cover and hid in shops and under tables, the grocery store that spans most of the mall was a main hiding place for many people, and the main scene of a fire fight between security forces and attackers.

Reports indicate that different groups of armed men attacked the mall in coordinated groups. Kenyan officials say that about 10,000 people shop at the mall on the weekend and that it is a popular destination for the wealthy and foreigners.

Al-Shabab, an Islamist group from Somalia, has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The attackers also took hostages and a standoff  has ensued.

“Waiting ambulances are parked outside while sporadic gunfire can be heard coming from inside Westgate Mall,” NPR’s Gregory Warner reported from Nairobi early Sunday. “Kenyan police said that the gunmen have been ‘contained’ but there are still hostages in unsecured locations. Special police forces are securing the building.”

As of the writing of this article, there are still hostages in the mall and the standoff  between the attackers and security forces is still ongoing. Kenyan security forces are reporting that the mall is mostly under their control and that most of the hostages have been rescued.”Our concern is to rescue all hostages ALIVE and that is why the operation is delicate,” the Kenya Defense Forces said on Twitter.

For further information, please see:

Guardian —  Nairobi siege: some hid, others played dead as gunmen stalked the mall — 22 September 2012

NPR — Nairobi Mall Attack: Civilians Remain Hostages; Dozens Dead — 22 September 2013

Yahoo News — Most hostages rescued, shopping mall mostly secure: Kenyan army — 22 September 2013

BBC News — Nairobi Westgate shoot-out kills 11 in Kenya — 21 September 2013

Guardian — Nairobi mall attackers could not have picked a better target — 21 September 2013