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Syria conflict: Amnesty condemns 'execution' by rebels Syria conflict: Amnesty condemns videoed 'execution' by rebels
(about 1 hour later)
Amnesty International has condemned what appears to be a summary execution of Syrian soldiers by rebel fighters in a video posted online. Amnesty International has condemned what appears to be a summary execution of Syrian government soldiers by rebel fighters in a video posted online.
The human rights group said that the killings on Thursday - if confirmed - constituted a "war crime".The human rights group said that the killings on Thursday - if confirmed - constituted a "war crime".
The alleged executions took place after the rebels overran army checkpoints between Damascus and Aleppo.The alleged executions took place after the rebels overran army checkpoints between Damascus and Aleppo.
Meanwhile, government helicopters and jets carried out air strikes near Damascus and elsewhere. The army, meanwhile, continued its air strikes across Syria. In all, more than 150 people reportedly died in fighting.
In the past few weeks, the military has stepped up the use of warplanes where ground forces have not been able to dislodge rebel fighters. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said more than 70 government soldiers, 43 civilians and 38 rebels were killed in Thursday's fighting.
More than 150 people were killed in fighting across Syria on Thursday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group. The UK-based activist group more than 36,000 people have been killed since protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in March 2011.
The SOHR says more than 36,000 people - among them 25,667 civilians, 9,044 security forces personnel and 1,296 rebel fighters - have been killed since protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in March 2011. The SOHR is one of the most prominent organisations documenting and reporting incidents and casualties in the Syrian conflict. It says its reports are impartial, though its information cannot be independently verified.
The SOHR is one of the most prominent organisations documenting and reporting incidents and casualties in the Syrian conflict. The group says its reports are impartial, though its information cannot be independently verified. US warning
'Shocking footage'
The video allegedly shows rebel fighters kicking and pushing about a dozen soldiers to the ground inside what appears to be a seized checkpoint.The video allegedly shows rebel fighters kicking and pushing about a dozen soldiers to the ground inside what appears to be a seized checkpoint.
A volley of shots is then fired into the cowering mass of bodies.A volley of shots is then fired into the cowering mass of bodies.
In a statement, Amnesty said: "This shocking footage depicts a potential war crime in progress, and demonstrates an utter disregard for international humanitarian law by the armed group in question."In a statement, Amnesty said: "This shocking footage depicts a potential war crime in progress, and demonstrates an utter disregard for international humanitarian law by the armed group in question."
No group has so far admitted carrying out the alleged killings.No group has so far admitted carrying out the alleged killings.
But it is alleged that an extremist Islamist group, the al-Nusra front, was responsible, the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon reports.But it is alleged that an extremist Islamist group, the al-Nusra front, was responsible, the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon reports.
For months, activists have reported similar summary executions by regime forces virtually every day.For months, activists have reported similar summary executions by regime forces virtually every day.
But there has been mounting evidence of similar tactics being used by some rebel groups too, although many have signed a code of practice banning such abuses, our correspondent says.But there has been mounting evidence of similar tactics being used by some rebel groups too, although many have signed a code of practice banning such abuses, our correspondent says.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier warned that radical Islamist fighters were trying to hijack the Syrian revolution.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier warned that radical Islamist fighters were trying to hijack the Syrian revolution.
The comments have drawn an angry response from some opposition leaders, who say that it is the failure of the outside world to support the uprising with practical help that has left the field open to the radicals.The comments have drawn an angry response from some opposition leaders, who say that it is the failure of the outside world to support the uprising with practical help that has left the field open to the radicals.