Syrian athletes will attend London Olympics, says British PM - CNN

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Syrian athletes will attend London Olympics, says British PM - CNN Mar 29th 2012, 18:15 UK Prime Minister David Cameron (center) has asserted Syrian athletes will be in attendance at the London Olympics STORY HIGHLIGHTS British Prime Minister David Cameron backs Syrian athletes to attend to London 2012 Olympics "I don't think we should punish the athletes for the sins of the region," Cameron said IOC currently working with the United Nations to identify anyone guilty of war crimes in Syria More than 9,000 people have died in the conflict which started in March 2011 London (CNN) -- Syrian athletes will be allowed to attend this summer's London Olympics but officials from the war-torn country will not be welcome, says UK Prime Minister David Cameron. "I don't think we should punish the athletes for the sins of the region. Syrian athletes will be taking part in the Games, and that is right," Cameron said at a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday. But representatives of the President Bashar al-Assad regime will not be welcome, he added. "Britain has led efforts within the European Union and elsewhere to institute asset bans, travel freezes and punishing sanctions against this despicable regime and anyone covered by one of those travel bans will not be welcomed in London," Cameron said. I don't think we should punish the athletes for the sins of the region. Syrian athletes will be taking part in the Games David Cameron, UK Prime Minister His message of support for Syrian athletes came on the same day as a visit by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge. Rogge is in London along with other IOC officials to see at first hand how final preparations for the Games (which start on July 27) are progressing. Earlier this month, Rogge said there were between six and eight Syrian athletes who could potentially qualify for the Games, but warned that any athlete implicated in war crimes would be banned. He added that the IOC was currently working with the United Nations (U.N.) to verify lists of those inside the country who are wanted for war crimes. According the U.N.'s most recent estimates, more than 9,000 people have been killed since the conflict between Syrian forces and rebels began in March 2011. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers. Five Filters recommends: Donate to Wikileaks.

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