Report Says Syrian Security Forces Ordered to Shoot Protesters
A U.S.-based rights group says Syrian commanders ordered security forces to shoot anti-government protesters to disperse them.
Human Rights Watch said Saturday that incidents involving the use of live ammunition on demonstrators were described by eight soldiers and four members of security force agencies who have defected since protests erupted in March.
The rights group says the defectors recounted situations in which they were initially told by superiors that they would be fighting militants. They instead encountered unarmed protesters, but commanders still ordered them to open fire.