30 tortured bodies found in Damascus
2012-12-31 14:34
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Syria
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Beirut - Thirty tortured and disfigured bodies have been
found in the northern Damascus neighbourhood of Barzeh, the scene of regular
clashes between regime troops and rebels, a watchdog said on Monday.
"Thirty bodies were found in the Barzeh district.
They bore signs of torture and have so far not been identified," said the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on medics and activists on
the ground in compiling its tolls.
The Syrian Revolution General Commission, a grassroots
network of anti-regime activists, estimated that there were 50 bodies, adding
that "their heads were cut and disfigured to the point that it was no
longer possible to identify" them.
These reports could not be verified independently because
of restrictions on the international media by the Syrian authorities.
The gruesome discovery was made on Sunday, the day UN and
Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said he has a plan to end the conflict
that could be acceptable to world powers.
The Syrian conflict, which erupted in March 2011, has
claimed more than 45 000 lives, according to Observatory estimates.
On Sunday itself 160 people were killed nationwide - 78
civilians, 41 soldiers and 41 revels, the Observatory said.
