Syrian government forces have massacred civilians, bombed hospitals and committed other war crimes in widespread attacks to recapture territory in recent months, United Nations human rights investigators said on Wednesday.



Opposition forces, including Islamist foreign fighters, have committed war crimes including executions, hostage-taking and shelling civilian neighbourhoods, they said in their latest report, covering the period of May 15 to July 15.


"The perpetrators of these violations and crimes, on all sides, act in defiance of international law. They do not fear accountability. Referral to justice is imperative, " said the UN commission of inquiry led by Brazilian Paulo Pinheiro.