Syrian crimes 'must stop,' ICRC says

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 15 (UPI) -- Violations of international law by all parties to the Syria civil war must stop, the regional head of the international Red Cross said Friday.

The United Nations estimates Syrian war displaced more 1 million people and left more than 70,000 dead since war began in March 2011.

Robert Mardini, head of regional operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said his organization has seen ongoing attacks against civilians, healthcare workers and aid workers by all parties to the conflict.

"These ongoing violations of international humanitarian law and of basic humanitarian principles by all sides must stop," he said in a statement.

Mardini expressed concern that the situation will endure as Syrian and international efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict have failed.

Some members of the European community urged the European government in Brussels to lift the arms embargo on Syria to support anti-regime forces.

British Prime Minister David Cameron met Friday with French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of an EU summit regarding the issue.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius wrote in Thursday's French daily newspaper Liberation that "we now have no other option than to lift the arms embargo."