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Syria UN team 'shot at' near Qubair 'massacre site' Syria UN team 'shot at' near Qubair 'massacre site'
(about 1 hour 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 reported massacre as "shocking and sickening", and an "unspeakable barbarity". Addressing the UN General Assembly, Ban Ki-moon condemned the Qubair killings as "shocking and sickening".
UN monitors said earlier that Syrian troops had blocked access to Qubair. UN envoy Kofi Annan said his peace plan for Syria was not being implemented despite being accepted by Damascus.
The opposition blames the killings at Qubair on pro-government forces but the government accuses "terrorists".The opposition blames the killings at Qubair on pro-government forces but the government accuses "terrorists".
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the violence was "unconscionable".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 peace envoy Kofi Annan, which includes a ceasefire meant to begin in mid-April. 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.
'Brutality and duplicity' '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 do so, 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.
Mr Annan condemned the killings and said his plan was not being implemented. "Any regime or leader that tolerates such killing of innocents has lost its fundamental humanity," he said.
"We cannot allow mass killing to become part of everyday reality in Syria," 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".
Speaking earlier in Syria, UN mission chief Gen Robert Mood said monitors were continuing efforts to reach Qubair, near the western city of Hama. "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.
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.Mrs Clinton called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, accusing his government of sponsoring Wednesday's violence near Hama.
"Assad has doubled down on his brutality and duplicity," she said on a visit to Istanbul, Turkey. 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.
Mrs Clinton said 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.
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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 pro-government 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 said 78 people had died in Qubair, including 35 members of one family.
But Syrian officials said reports of a massacre were "completely false". 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.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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