Syrian Forces Committed War Crimes

UN investigators have uncovered evidence of mass killings.

The panel appointed by the UN's 47-nation Human Rights Council blames government and allied militia for the killing of more than 100 civilians in the village of Houla in May, nearly half of them children.

It says the murders, unlawful killing, torture, sexual violence and indiscriminate attacks point to involvement of the highest levels of government and forces.

Syrian rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad have also committed war crimes, but the violations "did not reach the gravity, frequency and scale" of those carried out by the army and security forces, they said.