Red Cross Chief Visiting Syria

To meet with Assad, among others

Red Cross chief Peter Maurer is in Syria on a mercy mission amid a surge of bombings and clashes in the capital and the second city Aleppo that has left scores more dead, a spokeswoman says. 

Maurer's mission will "focus on increased humanitarian needs and to remind the belligerents of their obligation under international law related to the protection of civilians" in particular, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) spokeswoman in Damascus Rabab Rifai said on Tuesday.