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Syria unrest has killed 60,000, says UN | Syria unrest has killed 60,000, says UN |
(35 minutes later) | |
More than 60,000 people have been killed since Syria's uprising began in March 2011, the UN has said. | More than 60,000 people have been killed since Syria's uprising began in March 2011, the UN has said. |
A study commissioned by UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay collated data from seven different sources, and concluded that there had been 59,648 deaths until November 2012. | A study commissioned by UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay collated data from seven different sources, and concluded that there had been 59,648 deaths until November 2012. |
Ms Pillay said the figure would now have risen above 60,000 and described the bloodshed as "truly shocking". | Ms Pillay said the figure would now have risen above 60,000 and described the bloodshed as "truly shocking". |
Syrian opposition groups had previously estimated 45,000 people killed. | Syrian opposition groups had previously estimated 45,000 people killed. |
The study was released hours after a petrol station near Damascus was hit in an air strike. | The study was released hours after a petrol station near Damascus was hit in an air strike. |
The missile attack apparently sparked a huge explosion in which up to 70 people died, according to activists, in one of the deadliest incidents of the uprising. | The missile attack apparently sparked a huge explosion in which up to 70 people died, according to activists, in one of the deadliest incidents of the uprising. |
'Minimum' number | 'Minimum' number |
The UN-commissioned report, entitled Preliminary Statistical Analysis of Documentation of Killings in Syria, took data from sources including the government and opposition groups. | |
The authors, from the Benetech research group, looked at 147,349 reports of deaths from all seven of its sources. | |
They matched the reports and removed duplicates, and also counted only those accounts that provided the first and last name of the victim, and the date and location of death. | |
After this process, they arrived at the figure of 59,648. | After this process, they arrived at the figure of 59,648. |
However, they warned that an unknown number of killings had not been documented by any of their sources. | |
"The statistics presented in this report should be considered minimum bounds," the report said. | "The statistics presented in this report should be considered minimum bounds," the report said. |
The study did not provide a breakdown of whether those who died were rebels, soldiers or civilians. | The study did not provide a breakdown of whether those who died were rebels, soldiers or civilians. |
But it highlighted that 76% of the reported victims were identified as male. | |
The worst-affected areas were Rural Damascus and Homs province. | |
Ms Pillay said: "Given there has been no let-up in the conflict since the end of November, we can assume that more than 60,000 people have been killed by the beginning of 2013. | Ms Pillay said: "Given there has been no let-up in the conflict since the end of November, we can assume that more than 60,000 people have been killed by the beginning of 2013. |
"The number of casualties is much higher than we expected, and is truly shocking." | "The number of casualties is much higher than we expected, and is truly shocking." |
She stressed that the deaths were caused by both sides in the conflict, and warned that increasing sectarianism was making it increasingly difficult to find a satisfactory solution. | |
Protests calling for modest reforms began in Syria in February 2011. | |
A series of clashes between security forces and demonstrators saw the rallies snowball into a full-on uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. | |
The rebels now control large sections of Syria, but the conflict has appeared to be largely in stalemate for months. |