BEIRUT — Human Rights Watch is accusing Syrian authorities of hiding hundreds of detainees from Arab League monitors now in the country.
The New York-based international watchdog says the detainees have been transferred to off-limits military sites and urged the observers to insist on full access to all sites used for detention.
A group of Arab observers kicked off their one month mission in Syria with a visit to the flashpoint central city of Homs on Tuesday. Syrian officials have said the team will have unrestricted access to trouble spots but will not be allowed to visit sensitive military sites.
The Human Rights Watch report issued late Tuesday echoes charges made by Syrian opposition members that thousands of detainees were being transferred to military sites ahead of the observers' visit.
