Amnesty accuses Syria of crimes against humanity

The violence in Syria continues unabated on a day when the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced as many a 14,000 people have lost their lives in the conflict since March 2011.

Amnesty International claims Syrian government forces are killing civilians in organised attacks on towns and villages. Amnesty have accused Damascus of crimes against humanity.

Amnesty International’s senior crisis advisor, Donatella Rovera said:

“Wherever I went, in every town, in every village, there was a very similar pattern, i.e. soldiers who went in very large numbers for very short, but very brutal incursions where they extra-judicially executed young men, burned down their homes. Those who they arrested were then tortured in detention.”

A UN convoy finally entered the town of Haffeh after days of intense fighting between the Syrian army and those opposed to the Assad regime. They reported that the town was destroyed and deserted.

Opposition sources claim the Syrian government has lost control of parts of the country and military supply lines are stretched.

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