UN to investigate violence against Syrian protesters

NATIONS yesterday agreed to launch a UN-led investigation of Syria’s bloody crackdown on its uprising, demanding that its government immediately stop the violence, release political prisoners and lift restrictions on the news media and access to the internet.

In a 26-9 vote that coincided with Syrian forces again opening fire on demonstrators, the UN’s top human rights body used a day-long special session to say it “unequivocally condemns the use of lethal violence against peaceful protestors by the Syrian authorities and the hindrance to access of medical treatment”.

UN officials said the killing of more than 450 people during the protests may include crimes against humanity.