The Syrian government reportedly has been planting land mines along its borders, spurring outcry from human rights groups that say there is no justification for using the deadly, indiscriminate weapons.

Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that mines had been strewn along Syria's borders with Turkey and Lebanon, exit routes from the bloodied country. A former Syrian army mine specialist said he had removed an estimated 300 mines from Hasanieih near a route refugees use to reach Turkey.

Mines along the Lebanese border cost a 15-year-old Syrian boy his leg and killed a wounded person from the embattled city of Homs whom he was trying to bring to safety, a report by the group said.

"We are outraged to see Syria using anti-personnel mines against its own people, adding to the already dire humanitarian crisis Syrian civilians are facing," said Kasia Derlicka, director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. She called it a "despicable activity."