Killings, crimes and other abuses by rebels, including foreign fighters invoking jihad, have increased in Syria, UN human rights investigators said on Monday.

"Across northern Syria, there has been an upsurge in crimes and abuses committed by extremist anti-government armed groups along with an influx of rebel foreign fighters," Paulo Pinheiro, head of the inquiry, told the UN Human Rights Council.

"Entire brigades are now made up from fighters who have crossed into Syria, with Al Muhajireen being one of the most active," he said.

The investigators said foreign fighters from more than 10 countries, including Afghanistan and Russia's Chechnya region, as well as al-Qaida-linked al Nusra forces are backing Syrian rebels. The Lebanese Hezbollah is fighting alongside government forces. "The point is that these extreme elements have their own agenda and certainly not a democratic agenda that they are seeking to impose," council member Vitit Muntarbhorn said. "That is a major worry from our side of the fence."

Reuters

(China Daily 09/17/2013 page12)