UN report accuses Syrian rebels of committing crimes against humanity

Voice of Russia, DW, turkishpress.com, lse.co.uk

UN investigators have, for the first time, accused Syrian anti-government fighters of committing crimes against humanity. The Geneva-based UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria had previously only blamed the government for such crimes.

"Widespread attacks and sieges on civilian areas in Syria by pro-government forces are leading to mass casualties, malnutrition and starvation," said the commission in its seventh report, covering the six-month period between 15 July 2013 and 20 January 2014. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, head of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syrian Arab Spring, held a press conference on Wednesday before handing the report on Syria to the UN`s Human Rights Council. Pinheiro said the Syrian regime commits mass killings in civilian areas. The report says more than 250 thousand people are besieged and exposed to heavy bombings, leaving them no choice but to surrender or starve to death. The humanitarian commission called on groups fighting around the Yarmouk camp, near Damascus, to cease fire, to allow a humanitarian aid corridor to those in urgent need in the camp. It offers shelter to 18,000 Palestinian refugees. Previously, the UN had only blamed the Syrian government for committing crimes against humanity. Thursday's report also hit out at regime forces, however, saying the military and its allied militias were continuing systematic murders, torture, rape and enforced disappearances. The commissioned said government forces were using siege warfare and starvation against civilians as part of their military strategy. More than 250,000 people remain besieged the country, which is embroiled in three-year civil war. Many people were "denied humanitarian aid, food and such basic necessities as medical care, and must choose between surrender and starvation," it said, accusing the government of a "starvation until submission campaign."