WorldGENEVA, REUTERS -U.N. war crimes investigators said on Monday it had become increasingly difficult to interview newly arrived Syrian refugees in European countries and urged them to improve access to help document fresh abuses. The panel says it has compiled a confidential list of suspects on all sides that have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity. He did not name the European countries hampering investigators' access to Syrian refugees. Carla del Ponte, a panel member and former U.N. war crimes prosecutor, said: “We need a formal investigation to be done as soon as possible. Russia has backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's civil war while the United States has supported non-Islamist rebel forces fighting to topple him.

Source: Sunday Times September 19, 2016 11:26 UTC