Russia blasts U.N. officials over criticism of Syrian government

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad shakes hands with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Damascus, Syria, June 18, 2016. Picture taken June 18, 2016. REUTERS/Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defense Ministry via Reuters

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia blasted senior United Nations officials on Tuesday for their criticism of the behaviour of Syria's security forces during the country's five-year civil war and failure to acknowledge that those troops are fighting terrorist groups.

Speaking at a special meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, U.N. humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien and U.N. assistant secretary-general for human rights Ivan Simonovic criticized all warring parties, including the government, for rampant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.