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Syria violence: Hillary Clinton condemns Qubair killings Syria 'turns back' UN from Qubair 'massacre site'
(40 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned violence in Syria as "unconscionable", after claims that 78 people were massacred by pro-government militia in Qubair village on Wednesday. UN monitors in Syria say the army is preventing them from reaching the village of Qubair, where 78 people are reported to have been massacred.
"They are being stopped at Syrian army checkpoints and in some cases turned back," mission commander Gen Robert Mood said.
"Civilians" were also stopping UN patrols in the area near the western city of Hama, he added.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the violence was "unconscionable".
The UN has 297 unarmed observers in Syria to verify the implementation of a peace plan negotiated by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, which includes a ceasefire that supposedly came into force in mid-April.
'Brutality and duplicity'
There is a sense in Damascus shared by many diplomats, international officials and those opposed to President Assad that his regime may no longer have complete and direct day-to-day command and control of some of the militia groups being blamed for massacring civilians. The world has looked at the Syrian conflict in very black and white terms over the past 15 months. It now needs to acknowledge the shades of grey that are emerging.
UN observers are hoping to soon investigate the latest reports of killings. Kofi Annan will be updating the UN today on his mission and on the massacre in Houla. Members of the international community in Damascus say that, contrary to initial reports, most of the people in Houla were killed by gunfire spraying the rooms, not by execution-style killings with a gun placed to the back of the head. Also, people's throats were not cut, although one person did have an eye gouged out.
What is acknowledged is that, while the UN observer mission has been a success in terms of meeting its brief, the six-point plan has been a failure. And it's clear the Syrian conflict has stopped looking like past Arab revolutions and is instead beginning to look much more like Bosnia when it began the slow slide into sectarian civil war.
Mrs Clinton said the US was disgusted with the continuing violence and urged President Bashar al-Assad to step down.Mrs Clinton said the US was disgusted with the continuing violence and urged President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
China and Russia have already indicated they will not support any attempt at regime change or military intervention.China and Russia have already indicated they will not support any attempt at regime change or military intervention.
The UN is set to meet later to discuss new proposals from envoy Kofi Annan. The UN is set to meet later to discuss new proposals from Mr Annan.
He is expected to urge the Security Council to create a new contact group involving regional powers and council members to help end the violence.He is expected to urge the Security Council to create a new contact group involving regional powers and council members to help end the violence.
Mr Annan earlier brokered a six-point peace plan, which involved a ceasefire that was supposed to be in place by mid-April.
Analysts say the continuing unrest suggests diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis are having little impact on the ground.Analysts say the continuing unrest suggests diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis are having little impact on the ground.
There is a sense in Damascus shared by many diplomats, international officials and those opposed to President Assad that his regime may no longer have complete and direct day-to-day command and control of some of the militia groups being blamed for massacring civilians. The world has looked at the Syrian conflict in very black and white terms over the past 15 months. It now needs to acknowledge the shades of grey that are emerging.
UN observers are hoping to soon investigate the latest reports of killings. Kofi Annan will be updating the UN today on his mission and on the massacre in Houla. Members of the international community in Damascus say that, contrary to initial reports, most of the people in Houla were killed by gunfire spraying the rooms, not by execution-style killings with a gun placed to the back of the head. Also, people's throats were not cut, although one person did have an eye gouged out.
What is acknowledged is that, while the UN observer mission has been a success in terms of meeting its brief, the six-point plan has been a failure. And it's clear the Syrian conflict has stopped looking like past Arab revolutions and is instead beginning to look much more like Bosnia when it began the slow slide into sectarian civil war.
Some members of the Security Council are pushing for stiffer measures against the Syrian regime.Some members of the Security Council are pushing for stiffer measures against the Syrian regime.
"The regime-sponsored violence that we witnessed again in Hama [province] yesterday is simply unconscionable," said Mrs Clinton."The regime-sponsored violence that we witnessed again in Hama [province] yesterday is simply unconscionable," said Mrs Clinton.
"Assad has doubled down on his brutality and duplicity and Syria will not, cannot be peaceful, stable or certainly democratic until Assad goes.""Assad has doubled down on his brutality and duplicity and Syria will not, cannot be peaceful, stable or certainly democratic until Assad goes."
Mrs Clinton said she was willing to work with China and Russia to secure peace.Mrs Clinton said she was willing to work with China and Russia to secure peace.
But the two countries have twice vetoed Security Council resolutions against the Syrian government, and the US insistence that Mr Assad quits continues to divide the council.But the two countries have twice vetoed Security Council resolutions against the Syrian government, and the US insistence that Mr Assad quits continues to divide the council.
Militiamen
The latest violence comes less than two weeks after 108 people were killed in a massacre in Houla.The latest violence comes less than two weeks after 108 people were killed in a massacre in Houla.
According to activists, security forces launched a bombardment of Qubair, a village of fewer than 30 houses, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of the city of Hama, late on Wednesday. According to activists, security forces launched a bombardment of Qubair, a village of fewer than 30 houses, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of Hama, late on Wednesday.
The activists said much of the killing was done by accompanying groups of pro-government militiamen known as shabiha, who had come from nearby pro-government villages.The activists said much of the killing was done by accompanying groups of pro-government militiamen known as shabiha, who had come from nearby pro-government villages.
They said the militiamen shot at close range and stabbed many people, and that some of the bodies were later burnt in houses that were set on fire.They said the militiamen shot at close range and stabbed many people, and that some of the bodies were later burnt in houses that were set on fire.
"They executed [nearly] every person in the village. Very few numbers could flee. The majority were slaughtered with knives and in a horrible and ugly way," one activist in Hama told the BBC's World Tonight."They executed [nearly] every person in the village. Very few numbers could flee. The majority were slaughtered with knives and in a horrible and ugly way," one activist in Hama told the BBC's World Tonight.
"The small number of villagers who fled were the only people remaining who could tell the world about this horrible massacre.""The small number of villagers who fled were the only people remaining who could tell the world about this horrible massacre."
One Qubair resident told the BBC that when the army and militia left the village, he discovered about 40 bodies - mostly women and children who had been stabbed to death.One Qubair resident told the BBC that when the army and militia left the village, he discovered about 40 bodies - mostly women and children who had been stabbed to death.
Among the victims were four members of his family, the man said. He added that he saw the burned corpse of a three-month-old baby.Among the victims were four members of his family, the man said. He added that he saw the burned corpse of a three-month-old baby.
The Local Co-ordination Committees, an activist network, said 78 people had died in Qubair, including 35 members of one family.The Local Co-ordination Committees, an activist network, said 78 people had died in Qubair, including 35 members of one family.
However, Syrian officials said reports of a massacre were "completely false".However, Syrian officials said reports of a massacre were "completely false".
State TV reported that security forces had launched an attack on an "armed terrorist stronghold" in Qubair after appeals from citizens.State TV reported that security forces had launched an attack on an "armed terrorist stronghold" in Qubair after appeals from citizens.
Troops came across the bodies of two women and a number of children, bound hand and foot, the TV report said.Troops came across the bodies of two women and a number of children, bound hand and foot, the TV report said.
In a statement on state TV quoted by AFP news agency, the government said that "a terrorist group has committed a heinous crime".In a statement on state TV quoted by AFP news agency, the government said that "a terrorist group has committed a heinous crime".
The LCC said the Qubair killings had brought the total number of people killed nationwide by security forces on Wednesday to 140.The LCC said the Qubair killings had brought the total number of people killed nationwide by security forces on Wednesday to 140.
The BBC's Paul Danahar, in Damascus, says UN monitors are on their way to the village to investigate the killings.
The 297 unarmed observers are in Syria to verify the implementation of a peace plan negotiated by Mr Annan, which includes a ceasefire that supposedly came into force in mid-April.
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