Netherlands prepares case against Syria for "gross human rights violations"

AMSTERDAM, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The Netherlands is preparing a case against Syria at the U.N.'s highest court, seeking to hold the government of President Bashar al-Assad accountable for human rights violations, including torture and the use of chemical weapons, the Dutch foreign minister wrote in a letter to parliament on Friday.

Syria has been informed of the legal step, which precedes a possible case at the International Court of Justice, the U.N.'s court for disputes between states in The Hague.

"Today the Netherlands announced its decision to hold Syria responsible under international law for gross human rights violations and torture in particular," Foreign Minister Stef Blok wrote. The letter cites Syria's obligation to uphold the U.N. Convention against Torture, which Damascus ratified in 2004. (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Jon Boyle)