Gunmen have executed captured men believed to include Syrian soldiers, according to reports.

The claims come from Amnesty International and British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

An amateur video appears to show rebels executing captured Syrian soldiers near the northern town of Saraqeb.

The rebels beat and kick the soldiers, some of whom were wounded, before shooting them dead.

The authenticity of the video could not be independently confirmed but the video is consistent with other reporting by the Associated Press in the area.

Today the Observatory condemned the killing of nearly a dozen soldiers at the Hmeisho checkpoint. Amnesty released a highly critical statement.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, who heads the Observatory, asked how rebels can demand rights at a time when they violate such rights.