DAMASCUS, Syria, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The head of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society was traveling in a vehicle clearly marked with the group's emblem when he was killed, aid groups said.
Abd-al-Razzaq Jbeiro, secretary-general of the Syrian humanitarian group, was killed on his way from meetings in Damascus.
The International Committee of the Red Cross and its international and national counterparts said Jbeiro was traveling "in a vehicle clearly marked with the red crescent emblem after attending meetings at Syrian Arab Red Crescent headquarters in Damascus."
The Rev. Basilious Nassarand, a Christian priest, was also killed in the incident.
Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi, in a statement, said the episode should convince members of the international community to "spare no effort" to prevent the crisis from escalating as it only contributes to "the intensification of terrorist violence in Syria."
Terzi stressed that political transition plans outlined by the Arab League are the "only path" that is "capable of preventing further losses of human life and protecting the religious communities living in that country."
In September, a member of the Syrian aid group was killed when an ambulance was fired upon after it ran over downed power lines. Human Rights Watch said its investigation into the incident determined the ambulance was hit with 31 bullets from all sides of the vehicle.
The official Syrian Arab News Agency offered nothing other than a summary of ICRC comments on the latest shooting. Damascus maintains the violence in the country is the work of armed insurgents.
