UN rights expert says Syria is in ‘free fall’ and civilians are main victims of acts of terror

[pampango]

1. "“massacres and other unlawful killings - most by pro-government forces

and some by anti-government armed groups."

That is the same conclusion that Amnesty International reached."

"Pinheiro painted a devastating picture of the war-ravaged country: people fleeing to escape bombs from their own government, a collapsing economy and a conflict spilling across borders, “igniting tensions in the whole region.”

The government is relying on its superior weaponry and control of the skies to maintain control of major cities and lines of communications while hundreds of anti-government armed groups have increased operations in the north and south, Pinheiro said.

Pinheiro demanded that the government stop using imprecise weapons such as unguided missiles, cluster munitions and “thermobaric bombs” on civilian areas."