Syria to Miss Chemical Weapons Deadline & Other war crimes by Assad

MESOP 30-1-2014 – Less than 5 percent of Syria’s chemical weapons have been sent out of the country, and the government is expected to miss next week’s deadline to send all toxic agents abroad for destruction, Reuters reports. The first round of peace talks between the Assad regime and its opponents concludes in Geneva on Friday, but few issues have been resolved, and the greatest accomplishment appears to be getting both sides in the same room (NYT). Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch released satellite images showing thousands of demolished buildings in rebel-held areas, and the group characterized the destruction as collective punishment by the Syrian government (Guardian).