Syrian Observatory for Human Rights “shocked” by White House count

[ProSense]

10. This is a group aligned with the rebels and accuse Assad of the attacks. Still, from

the link:

Syria's political and military opposition is severely fragmented. The U.S. figure more closely matches reports by pro-opposition organizations such as the Local Coordination Committees and the United Revolutionary Medical Office in eastern Ghouta, a Damascus suburb hit by the alleged chemical attack.

Yes, it's fragmented and there is no doubt a power struggle. Kerry didn't pull the number out of thin air. Clearly, other groups have indicated that level of casualties. Even if one goes with SOHR's number of confirmed dead, it is still a deadly chemical attack launched by Assad.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

SOHR has been accused of selective reporting, covering only violent acts of the government forces against the opposition for the first two years of its existence. Although critics concede that its newsgathering has become less partial, the perception is it "continues to defend Islamic extremists to avoid losing support among rebel forces".[11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Observatory_for_Human_Rights

Local Coordination Committees of Syria

The Local Coordination Committees of Syria (Arabic: لجان التنسيق المحلية في سوريا‎: LCCSyria[3] or LCCs[4]) consist of a network of local groups that organise and report on protests as part of the Syrian uprising.[2][5] In June 2011, the network was described by The New York Times as beginning to "emerge as a pivotal force" in Syria.[1] As of August 2011, the network supported civil disobedience and opposed local armed resistance and international military intervention as methods of opposing the Syrian government.[6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Coordination_Committees_of_Syria