UN report details human rights abuses in northern Iraq

A UN report released Thursday listed a "staggering array" of human rights abuses and sectarian "acts of violence" committed by the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq.

The UN held the IS and associated armed groups responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law during the period from July 6 to Sep 10, Xinhua reported.

The report also documented violations of humanitarian and human rights laws reportedly committed by Iraqi security forces and affiliated armed groups.

The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq Nickolay Mladenov called the report "terrifying", adding hundreds of other allegations concerning civilian deaths are still under investigation.

"Iraqi leaders must act in unity to restore control over areas that have been taken over by IS and implement inclusive social, political and economic reforms," he said.

The report, produced jointly by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, followed Wednesday's announcement by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq that a total of 9,347 civilians have been killed and 17,386 wounded so far in 2014.

Well over half of the atrocities have taken place since the IS began overrunning large parts of the north in early June, according to the report.