UN: 'Crimes Against Humanity' By Syria

Syrian troops have killed hundreds of children and committed other "crimes against humanity" since unrest began in March, a UN report says.

The investigation, conducted by an independent panel, found 256 children were killed by government forces, some of them tortured to death.

The report said government forces used excessive force to "shoot indiscriminately at unarmed protesters" while snipers targeted others in the upper body and head.

It found Syrian security forces cooperating with militias were given "shoot to kill" orders to crush demonstrations.

"These crimes include murder, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence," said the panel's chairman, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, a Brazilian professor. "We have a very solid body of evidence."

The commission said that it had interviewed 223 victims and witnesses including defectors from Syria's military and security forces since September.

The investigators were not permitted to enter Syria.

Earlier, Syria's foreign minister called the Arab League's decision to impose sanctions on the Central Bank a "declaration of economic war".

Walid al Moulem hit out at the regional body during a televised news conference in Damascus, while claiming that his country had made every effort to find a way out of the crisis.

He said the league had "closed the windows" on attempts to reach a deal to end eight months of violence.

His comments came as thousands joined state sponsored rallies in Syria to protest against the "foreign interference" of the Arab League.

State television showed crowds in the capital Damascus and the second city of Aleppo.

Demonstrations were also reported in other areas of the country, including Deir Azour which has been one of the flashpoints for months of unrest.

The Arab League voted to impose the sanctions - the first against a member state - on Sunday. The measures include a travel ban on senior regime figures and a freeze on Syrian government assets.

There are also restrictions on investment in the country through Syria's national bank.

But Lebanon and Iraq, leading trade partners of Syria, have refused to implement the sanctions which may reduce their impact.

The European Union has welcomed the Arab League action as a "reaction to the regime's brutality and unwillingness to change course".

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the move showed that "the regime's repeated failure to deliver on its promises will not be ignored".

Mr Hague added that the Arab League's position should help break the UN's silence on Syria. Russia and China have previously vetoed attempts to condemn the regime at the UN Security Council.

Inside Syria the violence has continued, with activists reporting the deaths of more than twenty people in ongoing attacks by the government security forces. At least 3,500 people are estimated to have been killed since March.

The regime has repeatedly reneged on pledges to withdraw its forces and allow in foreign monitors.

The EU is poised to deepen its own economic sanctions against Syria at a meeting later this week.