Dec 9, 2016

Syrian pro-government forces have carried out at least 82 execution-style killings of civilians in Aleppo in recent days, including women and children, the UN said Tuesday, citing what it called credible reports on the ground.

The UN human rights office said it had received reports of "pro-government forces killing at least 82 civilians including 11 women and 13 children in four different neighbourhoods" in the former rebel stronghold of eastern Aleppo, spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva.

"We have also been informed that pro-government forces have been entering civilian homes and killing those individuals found inside," while other civilians have been detained, Colville added.

Asked to characterise the makeup of the forces reportedly carrying out the killings, Colville said: "It's a mixture. Syrian army and also militias."

The atrocities were committed in recent days, most likely in the last 48 hours, Colville said, adding that his office had the names of the victims.