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Syria is bidding for a place on the United Nations Human Rights Council, it was revealed Thursday, despite the UN’s human rights chief saying only days ago the country should be referred to the International Criminal Court because of abuses.

More than 15,000 people have been killed in a 16-month crackdown on protests against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, but Syria is almost certain to be elected to the council if it applies because of the voting rules.

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Amnesty International has claimed the government may be guilty of crimes against humanity and this week Human Right Watch said the Assad regime was running a string of torture centres around the country where civilians were beaten and sexually abused.

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Even UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said this week, “In my view, both government forces and armed opponents have been involved in actions harming civilians,” as she called for the Syrian situation to be referred to the International Criminal Court.