UN implicates Bashar al-Assad in Syria war crimes

BBC News online -- 2 December 2013

Human rights groups say that the regime's use of air power often amounts to war crimes

The UN's human rights chief has said an inquiry has produced evidence that war crimes were authorised in Syria at the "highest level", including by President Bashar al-Assad.

It is the first time the UN's human rights office has so directly implicated Mr Assad.

Commissioner Navi Pillay said her office held a list of others implicated by the inquiry.
The UN estimates more than 100,000 people have died in the conflict.

The UN's commission of inquiry into Syria has produced "massive evidence... [of] very serious crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity," Ms Pillay said.

The evidence indicated responsibility "at the highest level of government, including the head of state", she added.

The inquiry has also previously reported it has evidence that rebel forces in Syria have been guilty of human rights abuses.

Ms Pillay said the UN commission of inquiry had compiled a list of those believed to be directly responsible for serious human rights violations.

It is assumed that senior figures in the Syrian military and government are on that list, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva.

However, the names and specific evidence relating to them remain confidential pending a possible prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
She has previously called on the UN Security Council to refer Syria to the ICC.