Gross violations reported by U.N. in Syria

GENEVA, Switzerland, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- A 39-page report published Monday by the United Nations concludes there is "substantial" evidence that Syrian officials committed gross human rights violations.

The document, based on testimony from more than 200 people, discloses evidence of summary executions, sexual violence and violations of children's rights.

"The substantial body of evidence gathered by the commission indicates that these gross violations of human rights have been committed by Syrian military and security forces since the beginning of the protests in March," a report from the U.N.-backed Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria concludes.

The commission said it was "gravely concerned" over the level of systemic violence in Syria that has been ongoing since March. The United Nations estimates at least 3,500 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Syria during an uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The Arab League last weekend placed economic sanctions on Damascus in response to the escalating violence. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said the Arab League was refusing to recognize that Damascus was dealing with an armed insurgency, the official Syrian Arab News Agency reports.

The U.N. panel noted that it didn't have direct access to Syria.

"The commission deeply regrets that, despite many requests, the government failed to engage in dialogue and to grant the commission access to the country," it said.