HRW condemns Russian company for 'arming Syria'

A rights group has slammed a Russian company for allegedly arming the Syrian army, calling for the company's clients to boycott its services. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday called for an international boycott of firms that sell arms to the Syrian government, singling out Russia's state-owned company Rosoboronexport. "Rosoboronexport's clients should distance themselves from the company until it stops selling arms to Syria," the rights group said in a statement. "The bottom line is that no one should do new business with any company that may be an accomplice to crimes against humanity." Activists estimate over 13,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict after the government began brutally suppressing a pro-democracy uprising that started n March last year.