Syria conflict escalates to 'unprecedented levels of horror'

The civil-war in Syria escalated to "unprecedented levels of horror" after evidence emerged of the massacre of dozens of men. UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warned the UN Security Council to act now to prevent further atrocities, like the apparent execution of at least 65 men found dumped in a river in Aleppo.

Mr Brahimi said President Assad's government's legitimacy has been "irreparably damaged" but warned that it could still cling to power as both state and rebel forces commit "equally atrocious crimes".

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights opposition group said the Aleppo victims were found with their hands bound and a single bullet wound to the head - and that the death toll could climb to 80.

Syrian rebels blamed president Bashar al Assad's government for the killings, but state media said an Islamist opposition faction was to blame.

For more then a year, The Security Council has been paralysed on Syria. Russia and China have vetoed three western-drafted resolutions which would have threatened sanctions.

Russia accuses the West of seeking regime change through force and insists it cannot make Mr Assad resign. The US and its allies back the opposition position that there can be no talks with the president.

More than 60,000 people have been killed in 22 months of conflict, according to the UN, which will seek £950m in humanitarian funding for beleaguered Syrians at a conference in Kuwait.