17 Sep 2012

UN commission lists 'war crimes' in Syria

11:01 pm on 17 September 2012

A United Nations commission investigating human rights abuses in Syria has drawn up a new secret list of Syrians and units suspected of war crimes.

Lead investigator Paulo Sergio Pinheiro says they have gathered a "formidable and extraordinary body of evidence", the BBC reports.

He also urged the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch says armed rebels are torturing detainees and carrying out summary executions.

But it says violations by government forces were more widespread, the BBC says..

The Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria was set up by the UN Human Rights Council last year following an escalation of violence.