MANILA, Philippines – Amnesty International says it has documented violations of humanitarian law, some amounting to war crimes, during the five-month conflict between Philippine government troops and Islamic State-allied militants who laid siege to the southern city of Marawi.
The human rights group said Friday all sides in the fighting were guilty of violations. It said the militants committed unlawful killings, hostage-taking, pillage and mistreatment of prisoners. They allegedly used child soldiers and singled out Christians to attack brutally.
The report alleges government forces tortured and mistreated detainees and looted.
The siege from May to October left 1,100 combatants and civilians dead and displaced half a million people.
The government had no immediate comment, but in the past military officials have encouraged civilians to report abuse and assured that perpetrators would be punished.
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