By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, June 20 -- UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos briefed the UN Security Council about Syria on Thursday then took questions from the media. Inner City Press asked how many international non-governmental organizations have gotten in, and about reported sieges by the armed opposition of such places as Nobol in Aleppo and Alfoa'a in Idleb. Video here, from Minute 13:03.
Amos replied that yes, there are sieges. She said that four more NGOs have been allowed in, but are being slowed by bureaucracy.
On June 21 it was said that the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria would brief first the Council then the press. But then it was said that only two of the three Commissioners were be there: Paulo Pinheiro and Karen AbuZayd.
The third panelest Carla Del Ponte, who made news when she spoke of evidence pointing to the rebels' use of chemical weapons, has essentially disappeared. She did not take questions at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and is not listed for the June 21 events at the UN in New York.
Her statements was immediately undercut by Pinheiro and others in the UN. Is she lying low to get a UN job in the future? Watch this site.
