Human Rights Watch calls for Syria action

Syria is accused of committing crimes against humanity, by torturing and killing its own citizens.

The charity Human Rights Watch is calling for Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court. It also wants sanctions to be imposed against the authorities in Damascus. Syria says it will start talks with opposition groups within a week.

The UK Director of Human Rights Watch, David Mepham said that the charity had found that the "overwhelming majority of people killed were innocent civilians, unarmed civilians".