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Syria UN team 'shot at' near Qubair 'massacre site' Syria UN team 'shot at' near Qubair 'massacre site'
(about 11 hours later)
The head of the UN has said monitors trying to reach the Syrian village of Qubair, where 78 people are said to have been killed, were fired upon.The head of the UN has said monitors trying to reach the Syrian village of Qubair, where 78 people are said to have been killed, were fired upon.
None were hurt in the shooting but they have pulled back for the night.None were hurt in the shooting but they have pulled back for the night.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the "killing of innocents" at Qubair as "shocking and sickening".Addressing the UN General Assembly, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the "killing of innocents" at Qubair as "shocking and sickening".
Envoy Kofi Annan told the UN Security Council the crisis could soon "spiral out of control", diplomats said.Envoy Kofi Annan told the UN Security Council the crisis could soon "spiral out of control", diplomats said.
Mr Annan earlier told the General Assembly his six-point peace plan was not being implemented despite having been accepted by Damascus.Mr Annan earlier told the General Assembly his six-point peace plan was not being implemented despite having been accepted by Damascus.
Opposition activists blame the killings at Qubair on pro-government forces but the government accuses "terrorists".Opposition activists blame the killings at Qubair on pro-government forces but the government accuses "terrorists".
The White House said it strongly condemned "the outrageous targeted killings of civilians including women and children" in Qubair.The White House said it strongly condemned "the outrageous targeted killings of civilians including women and children" in Qubair.
But both China and Russia repeated their opposition to outside intervention in Syria.But both China and Russia repeated their opposition to outside intervention in Syria.
The UN has 297 unarmed observers in Syria to verify the implementation of a peace plan negotiated by Mr Annan. It includes a ceasefire, meant to have taken effect in mid-April.The UN has 297 unarmed observers in Syria to verify the implementation of a peace plan negotiated by Mr Annan. It includes a ceasefire, meant to have taken effect in mid-April.
'Killing of innocents''Killing of innocents'
"I just learned a few minutes ago that while trying to [enter Qubair], the UN monitors were shot at with small arms," Mr Ban told the 193-state assembly in New York."I just learned a few minutes ago that while trying to [enter Qubair], the UN monitors were shot at with small arms," Mr Ban told the 193-state assembly in New York.
The carnage at Houla, and now Qubair, has injected a dangerous new element into an explosive situation.The carnage at Houla, and now Qubair, has injected a dangerous new element into an explosive situation.
The shabiha militia is almost entirely drawn from the Alawite community, the minority to which President Assad and his ruling clan belong. Most of the victims are from the majority Sunni community in which the uprising is to a large extent based.The shabiha militia is almost entirely drawn from the Alawite community, the minority to which President Assad and his ruling clan belong. Most of the victims are from the majority Sunni community in which the uprising is to a large extent based.
There has always been a latent sectarian strand to the crisis but this threatens to pitch the country into open confessional civil war of the kind that tore neighbouring Lebanon apart for decades.There has always been a latent sectarian strand to the crisis but this threatens to pitch the country into open confessional civil war of the kind that tore neighbouring Lebanon apart for decades.
That is the disastrous prospect that looms if the world powers cannot find some way of clawing the country back from the brink.That is the disastrous prospect that looms if the world powers cannot find some way of clawing the country back from the brink.
"Any regime or leader that tolerates such killing of innocents has lost its fundamental humanity," he said."Any regime or leader that tolerates such killing of innocents has lost its fundamental humanity," he said.
Addressing the special closed meeting of the Security Council later, Mr Ban gave several examples of how UN observers had narrowly escaped injury, a diplomat told the BBC's Barbara Plett. Addressing a special closed meeting of the Security Council, Mr Annan urged world powers to warn President Bashar al-Assad of "clear consequences" if he did not comply with the six-point peace plan, diplomats said.
"The secretary general mentioned to the Security Council a heavy weapons round landing near a patrol... and armour-piercing bullets fired at at least one vehicle," the official said.
A drone had also been spotted overhead on one occasion, the official said.
At the same session, Mr Annan urged world powers to warn President Bashar al-Assad of "clear consequences" if he did not comply with the six-point peace plan, diplomats said.
Sausan Ghosheh, spokesperson for the UN observer mission in Syria, told the BBC the monitors had been sent home for the night.Sausan Ghosheh, spokesperson for the UN observer mission in Syria, told the BBC the monitors had been sent home for the night.
"We're here serving the flag of the United Nations... until now we're lucky no-one has been injured," she said."We're here serving the flag of the United Nations... until now we're lucky no-one has been injured," she said.
Speaking earlier in Syria, UN mission chief Gen Robert Mood said Syrian troops had blocked access to Qubair, which is near the western city of Hama.Speaking earlier in Syria, UN mission chief Gen Robert Mood said Syrian troops had blocked access to Qubair, which is near the western city of Hama.
In a statement, the White House said the killings, coupled with the "Syrian regime's refusal to let UN observers into the area", were "an affront to human dignity and justice".In a statement, the White House said the killings, coupled with the "Syrian regime's refusal to let UN observers into the area", were "an affront to human dignity and justice".
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the situation in Syria was "rapidly deteriorating" into sectarian violence.UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the situation in Syria was "rapidly deteriorating" into sectarian violence.
China's envoy to the UN, Li Baodong, said: "We resolutely oppose the solutions to the Syrian crisis through outside armed intervention or any attempt to forcibly promote regime change."China's envoy to the UN, Li Baodong, said: "We resolutely oppose the solutions to the Syrian crisis through outside armed intervention or any attempt to forcibly promote regime change."
VideosVideos
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.
Harrowing videos of dead children have been circulating on the internet purporting to show victims of the Qubair attack.Harrowing videos of dead children have been circulating on the internet purporting to show victims of the Qubair attack.
According to clandestine activists, security forces bombarded Qubair, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of Hama, late on Wednesday.According to clandestine activists, security forces bombarded Qubair, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of Hama, late on Wednesday.
Qubair is a small farming settlement inside the Sunni Muslim village of Maarzaf, which lies close to Alawite villages.Qubair is a small farming settlement inside the Sunni Muslim village of Maarzaf, which lies close to Alawite villages.
Activists blamed much of the killing on local pro-government Alawite militiamen known as shabiha.Activists blamed much of the killing on local pro-government Alawite militiamen known as shabiha.
Militiamen allegedly shot and stabbed many people, with some bodies reportedly set alight along with houses.Militiamen allegedly shot and stabbed many people, with some bodies reportedly set alight along with houses.
The Local Co-ordination Committees, a network of activists, said 78 people had died in Qubair, including 35 members of one family.The Local Co-ordination Committees, a network of activists, said 78 people had died in Qubair, including 35 members of one family.
Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, denied Syrian government involvement in the killings and said the allegations were mere propaganda and not helping the situation.Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, denied Syrian government involvement in the killings and said the allegations were mere propaganda and not helping the situation.
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.
It said a UN observer team had entered Qubair and had "witnessed a crime by the terrorists, who killed nine women and children".It said a UN observer team had entered Qubair and had "witnessed a crime by the terrorists, who killed nine women and children".
Members of the international community in Damascus say that most victims at Houla were killed by gunfire raking rooms and not in execution-style killings, contrary to initial reports.Members of the international community in Damascus say that most victims at Houla were killed by gunfire raking rooms and not in execution-style killings, contrary to initial reports.
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