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UN accuses Syria of crimes against humanity

The UN has accused Syria of committing ‘crimes against humanity’ against its people, in a report released today after an inquiry by a UN panel.

The panel was refused entry into Syria and had to gather information from outside sources including regime defectors and human rights activists.

The report alleges that "army snipers and Shabbiha gunmen [from pro-Assad militias] posted at strategic points terrorised the population, targeting and killing small children, women and other unarmed civilians. Fragmentation mortar bombs were also fired into densely populated neighbourhoods."

"Security agencies continued to systematically arrest wounded patients in state hospitals and to interrogate them, often using torture, about their supposed participation in opposition demonstrations or armed activities."

A list of top regime officials involved in the violence has also been drawn up and is thought to include President Bashar al-Assad, however the list will be kept secret until the allegations can be investigated by an international human rights court.

One commissioner who helped draw up the UN report, Yakin Ertürk said the list of the named top officials believed to be involved has to be kept secret for now.

"All the crimes we listed came from several consistent witness accounts and showed systematic abuses. We are not a court. We could not investigate and sentence like a court. So it has been deposited with the UN high commissioner for human rights. When and if these incidents are investigated by a court, it will be made available and provide an input into the investigation."

The inquiry further revealed it found "a reliable body of evidence" implicating "commanding officers and officials at the highest levels of government" in the commission of "crimes against humanity and other gross human rights violations", with Assad being reported to be on top of the list.

The report also details crimes by the Free Syrian Army, such as torture and extra-judicial executions, however adds that those violations are not "comparable in scale and organisation" to the abuses carried out by the Syrian state.

"I am appalled by the evidence that young children are being targeted by snipers, and that security forces continue to arrest and torture wounded patients in state hospitals," said Alistair Burt, the UK's Foreign Office minister.

"I am also very concerned at evidence of abuses by the Free Syrian Army, though the report makes clear these are on a far smaller scale than the widespread and systematic violations by the Syrian authorities.

"I call on all Syrians to respect human rights standards, end the violence immediately and ensure neutral and impartial access for humanitarian organisations to deliver desperately needed supplies and medical care. "

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