'Hundreds tortured' in Syria: Intelligence agencies

Syrian security and intelligence agencies have detained and tortured hundreds of protesters since anti-regime rallies engulfed the country last month, a leading international rights group said.

Human Rights Watch urged Syrian authorities to immediately stop the use of torture and free all demonstrators, activists and journalists in custody.

The New York-based HRW says hundreds have been arbitrarily detained and subjected to “torture and ill-treatment”. It didn’t provide a precise number.

Protests across Syria have steadily increased, with tens of thousands calling for sweeping political reforms to President Bashar Assad’s authoritarian regime.

More than 200 people have been killed during the government crackdown on protesters, according to Syria’s main pro-democracy group.