Canada calls for Syria war crimes prosecution

Canada's top diplomat on Friday called for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and his inner circle to be prosecuted for war crimes, and blasted Russia for stifling UN efforts to quell the violence.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird also said Canada was "pleased" with this week's defection of General Munaf Tlass, the highest-ranking military officer to have abandoned the Assad regime. The Assad regime must be "held to account for the crimes they are committing, and in my judgment these crimes are clearly reaching the level of crimes against humanity," Baird said. (AFP)