(Shove it Nutsflipped and Co.)




Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19273284

Syrian troops and militia were behind the Houla massacre of 108 people in May, UN investigators have found.


The massacre was considered one of the worst attacks on civilians since the start of the uprising in March 2011.


An inquiry appointed by the UN Human Rights Council has said
war crimes have been carried out by both opposition groups and
government forces.
It alleges that systematic violations have been authorised at the highest levels of the Syrian government.


Murder, torture and sexual violence are given as examples of
violations by Syrian forces in the 104-page report, which looks at
events between February 2012 and late July.
During that time, the report says, ever more brutal tactics are being used.


It finds opposition forces guilty of war crimes but not of
the same gravity or on the same frequency or scale as those blamed on
government forces.
In particular, government troops and pro-government shabiha
militia are found responsible for the killings at Taldou in the Houla
area on 25 May, in which 108 people including 49 children died.
Although the Damascus government did not allow the team into
Syria, the investigators spoke to almost 700 people, including civilians
and former soldiers who have fled to neighbouring countries.