DAMASCUS, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday announced the formation of an independent national committee to investigate the recent deadly violence in the coastal region, according to a presidential decree.
The committee, composed of seven legal and military figures, has been tasked with uncovering the causes and circumstances of the March 6 incidents, investigating human rights violations against civilians, and identifying those responsible for attacks on public institutions and security personnel.
The presidential decree emphasized that individuals found guilty of crimes or violations would be referred to the judiciary. It also mandates full cooperation from government institutions and grants the committee the authority to enlist necessary experts to complete its mission within 30 days.
The announcement comes amid reports of mass casualties and alleged extrajudicial executions in Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartous, where security forces are conducting operations against suspected remnants of the former government.
On Thursday, these remnants launched a series of attacks in Latakia, killing 16 security personnel. Government officials described the ambushes as premeditated.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll from ongoing clashes has surpassed 1,000, including 830 civilians, as per the toll updated on Sunday. ■
