An Arab League observer has quit from the mission in Syria, labelling it a “farce” and accused President Assad’s regime of war crimes.

Anwar Malek, an Algerian observer part of an Arab League mission sent to country told Al-Jazeera,

"I withdrew from the Arab observers mission because I found myself serving the regime, and not part of an independent observer group."

"The mission was a farce and the observers have been fooled. The regime orchestrated it and fabricated most of what we saw to stop the Arab League from taking action against the regime,"

"What I saw was a humanitarian disaster. The regime isn't committing one war crime but a series of crimes against its people. Children are killed and they are starved and terrorised."

“I have seen it with my own eyes. I could not shed my humanity in such situations and claim independence and objectivity.”

Malek went on to charge that Assad’s regime was playing "dirty,"

"It even began killing its supporters to convince the Arab observers that it is carrying out its duties and to gain their sympathy."

The statements from Mr Malek came as Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State commented,

“We cannot permit President Assad and his regime to have impunity."

The mission is due to deliver its final report on January 19th.

Earlier this week, President Assad used his fourth public speech since the uprisings began to blame “foreign conspiracies” for the unrest in the country and blamed it on “terrorism”. He then vowed to “strike with an iron fist against terrorists”.

The United Nations now says the death toll in Syria exceeds 5,000,with 400 people having been killed since the Arab League mission in the country began.