Readers' Blog: We must all act to end the atrocities in Syria

Nightly now we see the appalling cruelty being inflicted on helpless Syrian citizens by their own government and by their Rusian and Iranian allies. The scenes are indescribable and no one with a heart could fail to be moved to anger against the perpetrators. Behaviour first instigated by Bashar al Assad in brutally suppressing peaceful protest by Syrian citizens has ultimately led to this atrocious tragedy.

No one could deny what has happened, and is now happening is a crime against humanity. Indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, deliberate destruction of hospitals, medical facilities, medical staff and patients, use of toxic gases, prevention of aid to injured and starving civilians are redolent of some of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.