Syria: Petrol Station Strike 'Kills Dozens'

Dozens of people have been killed after an air strike on a petrol station in the capital Damascus, according to opposition activists.

Mohammed Saeed, an activist who visited the site, said "tens of people were killed or wounded" in the strike, while "body parts could be seen on the ground".

Amateur video, which cannot be verified, showed block smoke billowing from the petrol station in the eastern suburb of Mleiha and casualties fleeing the scene.

Some activists said more than 30 people died in the strike, although the exact number was not confirmed.

Mr Saeed said drivers were waiting in line for fuel when the petrol station was targeted.

Syria has been facing a fuel crisis and people often queue for hours to refuel.

Meanwhile, the UN said more than 60,000 people have died in the conflict in Syria since fighting began in March 2011.

Using data from seven different sources, it said the number of fatalities rose from 1,000 a month in the summer of 2011 to 5,000 a month within one year.

In the provinces of Homs and Damascus, around three-quarters of those who were killed were male.

Navi Pillay, the UN's human rights commissioner, described the number of casualties as "truly shocking" and "much higher than we expected".

"Cities, towns and villages have been, and are continuing to be, devastated by aerial attacks, shelling, tank fire, bomb attacks and street-to-street fighting," she said.

"Unless there is a quick resolution to the conflict, I fear thousands more will die or suffer terrible injuries as a result of those who harbour the obstinate belief that something can be achieved by more bloodshed, more torture and more mindless destruction."