20h 38min, dec 21, 2012 y - NATO detects more missile launches in Syria
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Syria's military has fired more Scud-type missiles inside the country, NATO officials have said, more than a week after the alliance first detected such arms being used on rebel targets.
"I can confirm that we have detected the launch of Scud-type missiles. We strongly regret that act," NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.
He added the launches were "acts of a desperate regime approaching collapse".
A NATO source said there had been multiple launches of Scud-type missiles inside Syria on Thursday morning.
The mobile medium-range Scud is a Soviet-era missile that can carry a warhead of up to 1,000 kilograms.
The missiles can be equipped with conventional, chemical or nuclear warheads.
Mr Rasmussen used the Scud launches to justify NATO's decision to dispatch Patriot anti-missile systems to Turkey - a deployment criticised by Syria, Iran and Russia.
"The fact that such missiles are used in Syria emphasises the need for effective defence protection of our ally Turkey," he told reporters.
"The recent launch of missiles has not hit Turkish territory but of course there is a potential threat and this is exactly the reason why NATO allies decided to deploy Patriot missiles in Turkey, for a defensive purpose only."
Yesterday, United Nations human rights investigators said in a report the conflict in Syria has become divided across sectarian lines and foreign fighters were assisting both sides.
Government forces have increased their use of aerial bombardments, including shelling of hospitals, and evidence suggested such attacks were "disproportionate", the UN commission of inquiry on Syria said.
But the conduct of hostilities by both sides is "increasingly in breach of international law", the investigators added.
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Syrian Civil War
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