Geneva — The UN rights office said on Thursday it has credible reports that the Islamic State (IS) group has killed more than 230 civilians trying to flee Iraq’s western Mosul since May 26. Between 50 and 80 more civilians were reportedly killed in a May 31 air strike on the IS-controlled Mosul neighbourhood of Zanjilly, said a statement from the office of UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. Zeid on Tuesday accused the jihadists of killing 163 civilians on June 1 in Mosul’s al-Shifa neighbourhood. Thursday’s statement detailed two new allegations, including a May 26 incident where IS reportedly shot dead 27 people trying to escape al-Shifa, including five children. On June 3, the group allegedly killed another 41 civilians in the same neighbourhood as they ran towards Iraqi troops, according to the rights office. "Shooting children as they try to run to safety with their families — there are no words of condemnation strong enough for such despicable acts", Zeid said. Target...

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