Syria's Banias massacre toll up to 145

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has now documented the deaths of at least 145 people in a "sectarian massacre" earlier in May in the coastal city of Banias, the watchdog said Thursday. Among those killed were 34 children aged under 16, including babies, and 40 women.

The number of identified victims has risen in the past two weeks because "dozens were missing, their bodies buried in their burnt-down homes, or under the rubble of their houses," said the Britain-based group. (AFP)