UN: Syria crimes evidence indicates Assad role

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The United Nations human rights chief says there is mounting evidence that Syrian government officials including President Bashar Assad are responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Navi Pillay says a UN panel investigating abuses in Syria's civil war has produced "massive evidence" of crimes that "indicates responsibility at the highest level of government, including the head of state."

But the head of the UN's human rights office, who answered questions Monday on human rights concerns around the world, said the lists of suspected criminals are kept under lock and key in her office and will remain sealed there until requested by international or national authorities.

In Syria, Pillay said, "the scale and viciousness of the abuses being perpetrated by elements on both sides almost defies belief."

Separately, the US government has begun outfitting a ship in its reserve ready force with equipment to enable it to destroy some of Syria's chemical weapons at sea in the event Washington is asked to assist in the effort, a defense official said on Sunday.

The Maritime Administration vessel MV Cape Ray is being equipped with the newly developed Field Deployable Hydrolysis System, which was designed by the Defense Department to neutralize components used in chemical weapons, a defense official said on condition of anonymity.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is supervising the disposal of Syria's chemical arms, said last week the United States had offered to destroy some of the components on a US ship and was looking for a Mediterranean port where the work could be carried out.

The OPCW aims to remove the most critical chemicals out of Syria by the end of December, with the remainder due out by Feb. 5.

The Cape Ray, a 198-meter vessel with built-in ramps to enable cargo to be efficiently rolled on and rolled off, is part of the Maritime Administration's ready reserve force of 46 ships.

For his part, Syria's deputy foreign minister has warned that efforts to rid his country of chemical weapons could fail if the international community does not contribute money and equipment including armored cars to the mission.

Faisal Mekdad told reporters Monday at a meeting of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons his country needs armored vehicles and other resources to move chemicals out of Syria for destruction.

"Without these resources it will be difficult if not impossible for Syria and for all OPCW to implement the decisions," he said.

The OPCW is aiming to destroy Syria's entire chemical weapons program by mid-2014. It is the first time the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization has attempted such a disarmament effort in the midst of a civil war.

On the field:

Six nuns were trapped in an ancient pro-government Christian village, the government said Monday, after al-Qaida linked rebels seized large swaths of the area.

Syrian army tanks were positioned around Maaloula as the fighting sent smoke wafting over the scenic village nestled in hills about 60 kilometers (40 miles) northeast of the capital, Damascus.

Forces loyal to President Bashar Assad are trying to keep rebels led by the al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, or Nusra Front, from advancing. Opposition fighters have taken control of several parts of the village since blowing up a checkpoint at its entrance on Friday, according to reports by the state news agency and opposition activists.

The fighting is part of a wider battle over a string of towns and villages in the rugged Qalamoun border region in an effort to control a strategic highway and smuggling routes from neighboring Lebanon. The town had been firmly in the government's grip but surrounded by rebel-held territory until Friday.

The resident said hardline Islamic brigades first began attacking Syrian forces in the town three days ago. He said Maaloula residents fled to Damascus, fearing rebels would punish them for supporting the government of Bashar Assad and because they are Christians.

On another note, the Israeli military says its troops have come under attack from Syria and have fired back in retaliation.

The military says a mortar round landed on the Israeli side of the frontier Monday and then gunfire targeted an Israeli patrol. There were no injuries on the Israeli side. The troops returned fire toward their attackers in Syria.

Gunfire and mortar rounds from Syria have periodically hit inside the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Israel believes most of the fire is errant spillover from the Syrian civil war. But in some cases, it has accused forces in Syria of intentionally firing into the Golan.

Israel has generally kept its distance from the civil war, saying it has no interest getting dragged into a conflict where nearly all factions involved are hostile to Israel.

REUTERS/AP

UN: Syria crimes evidence 'indicates' Assad role