UN panel concludes Syria war crimes

16 Aug 2012, 1:09 pm   -   Source: AAP
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A UN report has found the Syrian regime has perpetrated war crimes and crimes against humanity on civilians. 

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Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces and pro-government shabiha fighters have perpetrated war crimes and crimes against humanity on Syrian civilians, a UN expert panel have concluded in a report that provides in chilling detail further evidence of a conflict spiralling out of control.

The panel appointed by the UN's 47-nation Human Rights Council blamed the government and allied militia for the killing of more than 100 civilians in the village of Houla in May, nearly half of them children, and said the murders, unlawful killing, torture, sexual violence and indiscriminate attacks "indicate the involvement at the highest levels of the armed and security forces and the government."

The panel also concluded in its final report on Wednesday to the Geneva-based council that anti-government armed groups committed war crimes, including murder, extrajudicial killings and torture, but at a lesser frequency and scale.

The report covers the period between February 15 and July 20 and involved 1062 interviews, both in the field and in Geneva. But the panel members emphasised their lack of ability to carry out their UN mandate within Syria hampered their investigation.

Activists say more than 20,000 people have been killed since the start of Syria's revolt, inspired by other Arab Spring uprisings against autocratic regimes in the region.

The conflict has slowly changed into a full blown civil war that the panel says involves "more brutal tactics and new military capabilities on both sides."

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Your Comments

Questionable 'Truth' behind Sarah Ali

Biased opinion - from sydney, 9 months ago

I would appreciate links or explinations to the sugested warcrimes of these listed countries and would remind sarah ali that two wrongs dont make a right. The syrian people cant decide who should be thier leader thats the whole point of a dictatorship, alternatively this conflict seems a prety clear indicator that the people dont want Al-Assad. Also it is my understanding that Hezbollah, a orgnisation widely reguarded as a terrorist group is in fact in direct support of the assad regime.

No Truth behind western media

Sarah Ali - from Sydney, 9 months ago

The UN should really be pointing the finger at the US, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel for committing war crimes. Al-Assad's army are fighting these terrorists as any world leader would do if they were in the same situation. Let the Syrian people decide as to who the want as their leader.

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