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Kerry: IS is responsible for genocide

WASHINGTON, March 17 (KUNA) -- Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday determined that the so-called Islamic State has committed genocide against the Yazidis and other minority groups in Iraq and Syria. "My purpose here today is to assert in my judgment, Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups in areas under its control including Yazidis, Christians and Shiite Muslims," Kerry said in a statement. "Daesh is genocidal by self proclamation, by ideology and by actions." Today was the deadline that Congress gave Kerry to announce his position on the subject. Earlier this week the House of Representatives approved a resolution 393-0 stating that actions by IS are genocide.
"Ultimately the full facts must be brought to light by an independent investigation and through formal legal determination made by a competent court or tribunal," said Kerry.
This is the second time an office under the US president has used the term "genocide" during a conflict. The first was in 2004 when former Secretary of State Colin Powell applied the term to the situation in Darfur, Sudan. (end) ak.ajs