Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri has harshly criticized Syria's government for what he called an "unjustified genocidal attack" during deadly sectarian fighting in Druze-majority areas south of Damascus this week.

The Syrian government rejected calls for foreign intervention after a Druze leader slammed Damascus over the latest bout of sectarian violence in the country.

Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al Hijri on Thursday condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his people and called for "international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes",