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| UN implicates Bashar al-Assad in Syria war crimes | UN implicates Bashar al-Assad in Syria war crimes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UN's human rights chief has said an inquiry has produced evidence that war crimes were authorised in Syria at the "highest level", including by President Bashar al-Assad. | The UN's human rights chief has said an inquiry has produced evidence that war crimes were authorised in Syria at the "highest level", including by President Bashar al-Assad. |
| It is the first time the UN's human rights office has so directly implicated Mr Assad. | It is the first time the UN's human rights office has so directly implicated Mr Assad. |
| Commissioner Navi Pillay said her office held a list of others implicated by the inquiry. | Commissioner Navi Pillay said her office held a list of others implicated by the inquiry. |
| The UN estimates more than 100,000 people have died in the conflict. | |
| The UN's commission of inquiry into Syria has produced "massive evidence... [of] very serious crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity," Ms Pillay said. | The UN's commission of inquiry into Syria has produced "massive evidence... [of] very serious crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity," Ms Pillay said. |
| The evidence indicated responsibility "at the highest level of government, including the head of state", she added. | The evidence indicated responsibility "at the highest level of government, including the head of state", she added. |
| The inquiry has also previously reported it has evidence that rebel forces in Syria have been guilty of human rights abuses. | The inquiry has also previously reported it has evidence that rebel forces in Syria have been guilty of human rights abuses. |
| Ms Pillay said the UN commission of inquiry had compiled a list of those believed to be directly responsible for serious human rights violations. | |
| It is assumed that senior figures in the Syrian military and government are on that list, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva. | |
| However, the names and specific evidence relating to them remain confidential pending a possible prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC). | |
| She has previously called on the UN Security Council to refer Syria to the ICC. |