A/HRC/19/80 self-defence and in the defence of citizens”. The Government explained that the observer mission of the League of Arab States had confirmed that, in many cases, the Syrian forces had been provoked and forced to shoot in self-defence. The Government added that, in paragraph 26 of its report, the observer mission mentioned that the use of force by armed groups against the Government forces had resulted in the killing and injuring of a number of Syrian forces. The Government further maintained that it had suffered from the enforced disappearance of civilians and members of military and security forces in the context of the current events, stating that, between 19 December 2011 and 18 January 2012, 178 cases of kidnapping by armed groups had been reported (136 civilians, 15 military personnel and 27 from the authorities). According to the Government, those kidnapped were subjected to torture, including electrocution, beating, burning, psychological and physical abuse, and rape. The kidnappings had, in several cases, resulted in the killing of those kidnapped, whose bodies were then dumped. Armed groups claiming to be carrying arms to defend the Syrian people had actually demanded ransom for the release of some 54 people. 9. With regard to paragraph 4 (e) of the resolution, in which the Human Rights Council called on the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to allow unhindered access to medical care without any discrimination or control, and not to intervene in hospitals to arrest or abduct any wounded protestors, the Government reiterated its commitment to respect the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest standard of physical and mental health. The Government pointed out that, according to the Ministry of Health, the majority of those admitted by Syrian hospitals had been wounded as a result of gunfire to the back of the head or were dead bodies that had been subjected to abuse and had their hands and legs severed by armed gangs. 2 According to the Government, many of the bodies could not be identified because they were severely disfigured. It also stated that medical workers had been threatened, kidnapped, raped and murdered. Many of the hospitals, such as the national hospital in Homs, had been subjected to terrorist attacks and shelled with rocket-propelled grenades. The Government added that armed gangs had killed the deputy head of the Syrian Red Crescent on his way to the city of Idlib. It explained that there were cases where the terrorists had been given medical treatment by ambulance crews, but once the armed groups were informed thereof, they would break into hospitals and humiliate doctors and nurses and forcibly take the injured to field hospitals, mosques and private homes. In this regard, in its note verbale of 10 February 2012, the Government categorically rejected the allegations pertaining to the arrest by the authorities of injured persons in hospitals, and described them as fabrications of the media. It also claimed that security forces had not impeded any medical or ambulance crew transporting injured persons or the provision of ambulance services; on the contrary, the security forces had provided ambulances with assistance and protection from terrorist armed groups. The Government further stated that the security forces had not arrested nor interrogated the patients receiving medical treatment in hospitals. Moreover, none of the medical employees or crews had been harassed, threatened or arrested by the army or security forces. 10. With regard to paragraph 4 (f) of the resolution, in which the Human Rights Council called on the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to allow independent and international media to operate in the Syrian Arab Republic without undue restrictions, harassment or intimidation, to allow access to the Internet and the telecommunications network, and to lift censorship on reporting, the Government explained that the Ministry of Information had granted 147 permits to Arab and international media in the period from 12 and 15 January 2012 to give them an opportunity to witness the reality in the country. It also explained that the Ministry had done its utmost to facilitate their travel, operation and 2 4 A comprehensive report from the Syrian Ministry of Health was shared with OHCHR on 13 February 2012.