France Accuses Syrian Regime Of 'Crimes Against Humanity'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right) speaks with his French counterpart, Alain Juppe, during their meeting in Moscow.

The French foreign minister has accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime of committing crimes against humanity.

Alain Juppe made his remarks during talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow. Juppe also said France hoped that Russia will soon join sanctions against Syria.

Last month, Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, and the United States circulated a draft resolution that called for sanctions against Assad and his associates, but it encountered resistance from Russia and China.

During the talks, Lavrov gave no indication that Moscow would be changing its position.

Meanwhile, activists say Syrian security forces killed another 12 people on September 7, most of them in a renewed crackdown on the central city of Homs.

The United Nations says more than 2,200 people have been killed in Syria since protests erupted against the ruling regime there in mid-March.

compiled from agency reports