Syrian opposition abuses cited by Human Rights Watch

Armed rebels fighting the regime of Syria's Bashar al-Assad have committed "serious human rights abuses," an influential human rights watchdog said on Tuesday, CNN reports.

In an open letter to leaders of the opposition, Human Rights Watch cites "increasing evidence" of kidnappings, torture and executions and calls on those forces "to refrain from engaging in these unlawful practices."

The report emerged as the death toll continued to mount in Syria, with more than three dozen deaths recorded by activists on Tuesday.