DAMASCUS, Syria, July 14 (UPI) -- Syrian rebels Sunday called on the United nations to head off the potential massacre of about 200 people being detained in Damascus mosque by government forces.
The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces issued a written statement Sunday warning that Syrian armor and special forces were moving into the Kaboun area of Damascus where the mosque was being used as a detention center.
The coalition said troops loyal to President Bashar Assad were harassing civilians in Kaboun, which has been sealed off for the past seven months.
It was not clear who the 200 reported detainees were and why they were being held; however, the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA said the coalition also called on international human rights groups to join the United Nations in working for their release.
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