NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council should impose an arms embargo on the Syrian government and targeted sanctions against individuals on all sides responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Amnesty International said in a statement released on Thursday.

The organisation said such measures could help end barrel bomb attacks against civilians as well as any use of chlorine and other toxic chemicals as weapons.

Philip Luther, Director of the Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa Progra­mme, noted that “a year and a half ago the Security Council made a commitment to take further steps if resolution 2139 is violated by parties to the conflict.

The fact that indiscriminate attacks and other violations have continued unabated across Syria since then shows that it has been consistently and flagrantly flouted”.

“Unless resolution 2139 is enforced, Syria’s civilians will continue to be trapped in an endless cycle of bloodshed caused by the unlawful use of explosive weapons such as barrel bombs.”

The Security Council has already imposed arms embargoes on the armed groups known as Islamic State and Jabhat al Nusra.

Resolution 2139 also calls for the release of those detained unlawfully and for all sides to facilitate the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2015

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