Activist groups says armed men have apparently executed detainees, including soldiers

The Associated Press
November 2, 2012 at 10:37AM
In this picture taken on Wednesday Oct. 31, 2012, a citizen journalism image provided by Lens Young Homsi, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, buildings which were destroyed from the shelling by Syrian forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar Assad, at al-Qossour neighborhood in Homs province, central Syria. Syrian warplanes fired missiles at opposition strongholds around Damascus and in the north on Wednesday as Turkey, a key backer of the anti-regime rebel
In this picture taken on Wednesday Oct. 31, 2012, a citizen journalism image provided by Lens Young Homsi, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, buildings which were destroyed from the shelling by Syrian forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar Assad, at al-Qossour neighborhood in Homs province, central Syria. Syrian warplanes fired missiles at opposition strongholds around Damascus and in the north on Wednesday as Turkey, a key backer of the anti-regime rebels, appeared to distance itself from an earlier call to impose a no-fly zone. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

BEIRUT - Amnesty International and a Syrian group are charging that gunmen have executed captured men believed to include Syrian soldiers, calling it "shocking."

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the killings occurred near the northern town of Saraqeb.

An amateur video appears to show rebels executing captured Syrian soldiers. The rebels beat and kick the soldiers, some of whom were wounded, before shooting them dead.

The authenticity of the video could not be independently confirmed. The video is consistent with other AP reporting in the area.

On Friday the Observatory condemned the killing of nearly a dozen soldiers at the Hmeisho checkpoint. Amnesty released a highly critical statement.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, who heads the Observatory, asked how rebels can demand rights at a time when they violate such rights.

about the writer

about the writer

More from Minnesota Star Tribune

See More
card image
Provided/Sahan Journal

Family members and a lawyer say they have been blocked from access to the bedside of Bonfilia Sanchez Dominguez, while her husband was detained and shipped to Texas within 24 hours.

card image