United Nations, City, Rajab 23, 1433, Jun 13, 2012, SPA - The U.N. peacekeeping chief on Tuesday said the conflict in Syria is now a civil war. “Yes, I think we can say that,” U.N. Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous told reporters from Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP) when asked if the Syrian crisis could now be considered a civil war. “Clearly what is happening is that the government of Syria lost some large chunks of territory, several cities to the opposition, and wants to retake control,” Ladsous was quoted as saying. The International Committee of the Red Cross has yet to declare the conflict “an internal armed conflict.” Such a declaration would have legal implications regarding war crimes and compliance with the Geneva Conventions. --SPA 11:25 LOCAL TIME 08:25 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1007137