More than 39,000 killed in 20 months of Syria conflict: NGO

BEIRUT: Violence in Syria since an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's regime erupted 20 months ago has claimed the lives of more than 39,000 people, mostly civilians, a watchdog said on Thursday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights listed 27,410 civilians, 9,800 soldiers and 1,359 military deserters as among those killed since the uprising began on March 15, 2011. The Britain-based watchdog regards citizens who have taken up arms against Assad as civilians.