Syria Death Toll Over 5,000, German Foreign Minister Says

Syria Death Toll Soars Above 5,000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - German ForeignMinister Guido Westerwelle said Monday heunderstood 5,000 people had now been killed in Syria's crackdownon a nine-month-old uprising - a higher figure than other recentestimates.

"I am really shocked about what I heard about the atrocitiesin Syria. Five thousand people were killed, civilians, peoplewho ask for their freedom and civil and human rights," he toldreporters.

Westerwelle was speaking after talks in New York with U.N.human rights chief Navi Pillay, but did not specifically say shehad cited that figure. Pillay was due to brief the U.N. SecurityCouncil on Syria later in the day.

Pillay's latest public estimate - earlier this month - wasmore than 4,000 killed.

German officials said Westerwelle had intended to say 5,000. (Reporting by Patrick Worsnip; editing by Anthony Boadle)

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