Children in Syria suffer unspeakable abuses in war : UN

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 5 (AFP): Children enduring the war in Syria have suffered terrible abuses, with the government and allied militia responsible for many killings, maiming and torture, according to a grim UN report.

Rebels have also recruited youngsters as soldiers and used terror tactics in civilian areas, according to the UN's first report on this area of the conflict that was released to the Security Council on Tuesday.

It detailed gruesome incidents of torture including children being raped or beaten with metal cables, suffering electric shocks to the genitals and having their fingernails ripped out.

"Violations must come to an end now," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in the report.

"I therefore urge all parties to the conflict to take, without delay, all measures to protect and uphold the rights of all children in Syria."

The report covered the period from March 1, 2011 to November 15 last year in a conflict that has now left more than 135,000 people dead.

It details a series of abuses Syrian children have suffered since the opposition rose up to try to depose President Bashar al-Assad.

They range from direct commission of abuse, including sexual violence, to more general violation of their rights, from school closures and denial of access to humanitarian aid, the UN website said, quoting from the report.