so i see it see it as for the positional the international committee of red cross will negotiate schools here will go she will come back to history i thought that there will be such a question today because look at this committee of the red cross has the right to make statements well you know where there is a best situation isn't in charnel armed conflict that is the legal term when you switch there is no such a term of civil war there isn't the terms of in china armed conflict with specific definitions in international law and but dispense of geneva conventions admitted their special position of the red cross in international law or errant in that their facial statement of their press secretary of the red cross that he made yesterday called the situation in syria the internal armed conflict of course has consequences. only it's only protocol additional protocol number two two geneva conventions which qualifies as an internal armed conflict actions by side that take place on the territory of any usually high body between its armed forces and antigovernment armed forces or other organized

now that the international committee of the red cross says that syria is in a state of war state of civilwar will that make moscow reconsider its decision to fulfill its arms contracts with damascus and the other question regarding the now regular reports of high level defections away from president assad well those reports make moscow reassess its position on syria like you. really believe you should go as for defectors fusions with such things happen as you're used used to. that's natural laws and you know there are different matter it's of ensuring the. implementation of such most tabs of the regime we are calm about it there is no magic number that there amount of defectors will mean the radical change of sedation where concern not about the fate of their generals or diplomats where concerned about the fate of syrian people and civilians continue to die so bush will be course there armed groups are encouraged to reject any.

. >>> also this morning, a major development in syria, as the international committee of the red crossders the conflict a civil war. that means international humanitarian law now applies, raising the possibility of prosecution for war crimes. this as some of the heaviest fighting yet has erupted in the capital of damascus. at least five people were killed. nbc's ayman mohedin joins us with more. what's the latest in the brutal conflict? >> good morning, luke. you talk about the international community of the red cross. that's a very important decision. international law applies and it will be used as an argument that justifies why the rebels are allowed to take up arms. according to the international humanitarian law sides are al w allowed to use force to advance their aims. this is's that's going to be seen as an attempt to escalate violence. the violence is reaching damascus for the first time in ways never seen before. it's being called the most intense day of fighting on sunday. in the heart of the capital, clashes between opposition rebels and government forces in some of the neig

the international committee of the red cross made that announcement today. it means that international humanitarian law applies to any area where war is taking place, it gives parties the right to fight, but it also means that any attacks on civilians can be treated as war crimes. the declaration came just after syria denied claims they used heavy weapons against the opposition to president bashar assad. >>> right now u.s. officials are working to secure the release of two americans held hostage in egypt this evening. michael louis, a church member and their egyptian tour guide all kidnapped while traveling in egypt on friday. family and church numbers prayed for them. the pastor's son is concerned for his father's health because he's diabetic. his father was making his annual trip to the holy land. >> it's the opportunity that he has to -- to bring people together to go to israel, to walk the footsteps of jesus christ and a lot of people look forward to it. >> the kidnapper reportedly wants his uncle released from prison in exchange for the u.s. hostages. h

now the international committee of the red cross is calling it a civil war. which could have significant repercussions for the future of the conflict. clarissa ward has spent time in syria throughout this uprising. she joins us tonight on the border between turkey and syria. clarissa, first of all this designation civil war wa, does it mean? >> well, jeff, by declaring this conflict a civil war, it means that both sides are now held to international humanitarian law. that's basically the rules of war as dictated by the geneva convention. that means that anyone who attacks or kills civilians could face charges for war crimes. the rules also protect prisoners of war. they forbid for ture-- torture and say that the wounded must receive treatment. so essentially the aim of this designation is to protect civilians but also possibly to pave the way for future war crimes prosecution. >> clarissa as we mention this has been going on for some time now. you know that. how does the red cross decide when a country is at civil war? >> they have three primary criteria that

. >>> the international committee of the red cross is now calling the fighting in syria a civil war. social media websites posted video sunday claiming to show shelling in the capital city of damascus. >>> secretary of state hillary clinton is on her first visit to israel this morning in nearly two years. she is there to discuss the regional issues. while she was in egypt this weekend clinton's motorcade was pelted with water bottles and tomatoes. >>> are your kids dependent on their electronic devices? there are some local summer camps that are completely unplugged. >>> find out if ice age throws out the competition at the box office this weekend. >>> next at 5:15, there is a break in the heat in the seven day forecast. stay here for the good news. >>> hello friends, 5:14. good morning it is monday if you are justify waking up, i'm glad you are with us. i'm not sure if it is humid, does hair spray make it worse? i think it is a lost cause. >> mine goes from half straight to half curly. >> reporter: just forget it today, it is going to be so humid. temperatures today will rohit up onc

. >> shepard: jennifer griffin at the pelc tonight starting us off there the international committee of the red crossoday confirmed what so many of us have been saying for months. the uprising in syria is a civil war. it's important this formal declaration because it does open the door for potential war crimes prosecution. the united nations reports the syrian government is now refusing visas to aide workers despite the fact that 1.5 million people need help. [explosions] >> shepard: opposition activist in the capital city of damascus tells fox news he is witnessing the worst fighting of the entire conflict between government forces and rebel fighters. a woman has now told police the man accused of shooting an unarmed teenager in central florida molested her when they were both children. however, we don't yet know whether the woman's claim will be part of the claim of evidence against the shooter george zimmerman the molestation is actually clearly not relevant to that case or alleged molestation. the lawyers have told us that releasing those sorts of accusations could just be an effort by prosecutor

>> well, the international committee of the red cross previously said that there was fighting intense, homs, ha ma. in this case, the terminology of the red cross, it is calling the conflict in syria a noninternational armed conflict. which is in laymen's terms a civil war. what does that change? it means that civilians and noncombatants are protected under international humanitarian law which could lay the groundwork for future prosecution for war crimes of people involved in the conflict who break basic international humanitarian rules such astor tur, killing of civilians, prevented wounded from reaching hospitals and medical care. it changes things not on the ground for now but possibly in the future. >> what does it mean for the president, bashar al assad? if it's considered a civil war and faces potential war crimes, will they go after him as a war criminal possibly. >> that's possible, of course. what's interesting about a noninternational armed conflict, in other words, civil war, and this establishment of international humanitarian law is that now all sides have to respect the

that point the navy changed its rules of we engagement and they have been different ever since the "uss cole" incident. >>shepard: the red cross international committee confirms what many have been saying for a long time, the uprising in syria is create a full scale civil war. the red cross civil war designation now puts syria under international humanitarian law. that is because it could lead to war crimes charges at some point down the road. and an opposition activist in the capital of damascus tells fox he is witnessing the worst fighting between government forces and the rebel fighters. then there is the diplomat front, russia's foreign minister today accused the wet of blackmail, claiming that western leaders are threatening to scrap a united nations observer mission if now doesn't agree to the use of military force in syria. >> and, unmanned witness, unnamed witness, i sudden say making potentially damaging claims about the neighborhood watchman george zimmerman. it is all in newly released police interviews in the case of young trayvon martin. the question is, will it matter in a court of law? or just in the court of public opinion. we will pl