U.N. Panel Accuses Syrian Government of Crimes Against Humanity.

LONDON -- A United Nations panel concluded Thursday that ''gross human rights violations'' had been ordered by the Syrian authorities as a matter of state policy, amounting to crimes against humanity. The panel of three investigators, led by Paulo Pinheiro, a Brazilian professor, said the orders had come from ''the highest levels of armed forces and the government,'' but did not release the names of the officials it had identified as bearing responsibility. Instead, the panel delivered the names in a sealed envelope to the United Nations' top human rights official. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]