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Syria UN team 'shot at' near Qubair 'massacre site' Syria UN team 'shot at' near Qubair 'massacre site'
(39 minutes 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.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Ban Ki-moon condemned the Qubair killings as "shocking and sickening".Addressing the UN General Assembly, Ban Ki-moon condemned the Qubair killings as "shocking and sickening".
UN envoy Kofi Annan said his peace plan for Syria was not being implemented despite being accepted by Damascus. No monitors were hurt in the shooting but they have pulled back for the night, a UN spokesman said.
The opposition blames the killings at Qubair on pro-government forces but the government accuses "terrorists". Kofi Annan, the UN envoy, said his peace plan was not being implemented despite being accepted by Damascus.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the violence was "unconscionable". Opposition activists blame the killings at Qubair on pro-government forces but the government accuses "terrorists".
The UN has 297 unarmed observers in Syria to verify the implementation of a peace plan negotiated by Mr Annan, the ceasefire, meant to have taken effect in mid-April. The White House said it strongly condemned "the outrageous targeted killings of civilians including women and children" in Qubair.
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 do so, 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.
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.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.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.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.
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.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.
"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.
Mr Annan said the international community had united to find a solution to the conflict but "it must now take that unity to a new level".Mr Annan said the international community had united to find a solution to the conflict but "it must now take that unity to a new level".
"Individual actions or interventions will not resolve the crisis," he added."Individual actions or interventions will not resolve the crisis," he added.
Sausan Ghosheh, spokesperson for the UN observer mission in Syria, told BBC News monitors had been sent home for the night.Sausan Ghosheh, spokesperson for the UN observer mission in Syria, told BBC News 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 told the BBC.
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.
Mrs Clinton called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, accusing his government of sponsoring Wednesday's violence near 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".
She said on a visit to Istanbul, Turkey, that she was willing to work with China and Russia to secure peace, but those countries have already indicated they will not support any attempt at regime change or military intervention. The US has said it wants to work with China and Russia to secure peace, but those countries have already indicated they will not support any attempt at regime change or military intervention.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the situation in Syria was "rapidly deteriorating" into sectarian violence.
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, a village of fewer than 30 houses about 20km (12 miles) north-west of Hama, late on Wednesday.According to clandestine activists, security forces bombarded Qubair, a village of fewer than 30 houses about 20km (12 miles) north-west of Hama, late on Wednesday.
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 villages, the activists said.
Militiamen allegedly shot at close range and stabbed many people, and some bodies were reportedly later set alight along with houses.Militiamen allegedly shot at close range and stabbed many people, and some bodies were reportedly later set alight along with houses.
The Local Co-ordination Committees 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.
Are you in Syria? Do you have friends or family there? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. At no time should you endanger yourself or others or take any unnecessary risks.Are you in Syria? Do you have friends or family there? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. At no time should you endanger yourself or others or take any unnecessary risks.
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