Syrian army behind majority of rights abuses: UN panel

GENEVA, May 24, 2012 - The Syrian army and security forces have been responsible for the majority of the serious rights abuses committed since March this year as they hunt down defectors and opponents, UN-appointed investigators said on Thursday.

The Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, tasked last year by the UN Human Rights Council with investigating the situation there, said gross violations "continue unabated" despite the government and opposition agreeing to a peace plan implemented on April 12.

Most of the serious abuses the panel documented were committed by the Syrian Army and security services during military or search operations in locations known for hosting defectors or people thought to support anti-government groups, the panel said in its latest update.

The group, which carried out 214 interviews since March but has not been granted access to Syria, said "a clear pattern" had emerged of government blockades of villages and neighbourhoods to "weed out" wanted people and their families.

"Children have died due to a lack of adequate health care during government blockades," said the commission.

"Some, including those injured as a result of torture, have been willfully denied medical care."

The panel also highlighted the "systematic denial" in some areas of access to food and water and restrictions on freedom of movement.

More than 12,600 people have been killed since March 2011 in a crackdown on dissidents by the government of President Bashar al-Assad, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The commission headed by Brazilian Paulo Pinheiro was set up in August last year and has previously reported on "crimes against humanity" committed by Syrian security forces.

In its latest reporting period, from March 2012 to May 10, the commission said it was able to confirm 207 deaths.

Blockades have seen government forces demand the handover of dissidents before launching a raid.

"Anyone seen trying to leave the area by avoiding the blockades were presumed to be members or supporters of anti-government armed groups and were shot," said the report.

The panel also highlighted the reported the killing, capture and torture of army and security force personnel, as well as suspected informers, by anti-government groups and their growing use of homemade bombs.

"One anti-government armed group fighter admitted that he and his associates had killed government soldiers when the captives refused to join them," said the panel.

The commission also recorded instances of anti-government armed groups abducting civilians, apparently to exchange for prisoners, and employing children in their fight.

"The commission received corroborated evidence that anti-government armed groups often have been using children as medical porters, messengers and cooks, for units in the field, and delivery of medical supplies to field hospitals," it said.