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New 'massacre' reported in Syria's Hama province New 'massacre' reported in Syria's Hama province
(40 minutes later)
At least 86 people, including many women and children, have been killed by Syrian pro-government forces in Hama province, opposition activists say. Syrian pro-government forces have killed at least 86 people in Hama province, many of them women and children, activists say.
More than 20 children and 20 women were reportedly among those who died in the villages of Qubair and Maarzaf, in what the activists called a "massacre". The opposition said government-backed militia stabbed and shot their victims in the villages of Qubair and Maarzaf.
Syrian state TV said troops found some bodies after attacking "terrorists".Syrian state TV said troops found some bodies after attacking "terrorists".
Neither account could be confirmed, but it comes less than two weeks after 108 people were killed in Houla. Neither account could be confirmed, but activists said 140 had been killed nationwide on Wednesday - one of the bloodiest days of the uprising.
Witnesses on Wednesday blamed pro-government militiamen, while the government of President Bashar al-Assad accused "armed groups" seeking to trigger foreign military intervention. It comes less than two weeks after 108 people were killed in a massacre in Houla.
UN monitors were able to confirm those deaths, and the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says activists say that the observers are likely to go to the Hama shortly to try to verify the latest claims.
'Heinous crime''Heinous crime'
Activist groups reported that Qubair and Maarzaf, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of the city of Hama, had come under heavy bombardment from security forces backed by tanks.Activist groups reported that Qubair and Maarzaf, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of the city of Hama, had come under heavy bombardment from security forces backed by tanks.
But they said much of the killing in Qubair was done by accompanying groups of pro-government militiamen known as shabiha, who had come from nearby pro-government villages.
The activists said they shot at close range and stabbed many people, including women and children under the age of two, and that some of the bodies were later burnt in houses which were set on fire. Others were taken away by the shabiha, they added.
"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] are failing to save the lives of the wounded because they are very poor people - usually they are Bedouin who... have no kind of healthcare," he added.
Kofi Annan's plan calls for a ceasefire, followed by a dialogue between the government and the opposition that would lead to a political transition. Instead there's been an upsurge in violence, with the regime accused of carrying out massacres, and the rebels stepping up deadly attacks on soldiers.Kofi Annan's plan calls for a ceasefire, followed by a dialogue between the government and the opposition that would lead to a political transition. Instead there's been an upsurge in violence, with the regime accused of carrying out massacres, and the rebels stepping up deadly attacks on soldiers.
There is unity in the Security Council behind the idea in Mr Annan's plan, now it seems he'll be seeking unity of action.There is unity in the Security Council behind the idea in Mr Annan's plan, now it seems he'll be seeking unity of action.
Diplomats say he's expected to propose the creation of a contact group made up of world and regional powers - some, such as Russia and Iran, with influence on the government; others, such as Western and Arab states, with influence on the opposition.Diplomats say he's expected to propose the creation of a contact group made up of world and regional powers - some, such as Russia and Iran, with influence on the government; others, such as Western and Arab states, with influence on the opposition.
The idea would be to increase pressure on both, but especially the regime, to end the violence and begin negotiations.The idea would be to increase pressure on both, but especially the regime, to end the violence and begin negotiations.
If this is what Mr Annan is planning to suggest, he's already been met with objections from Britain and America, who don't want Iran to participate.If this is what Mr Annan is planning to suggest, he's already been met with objections from Britain and America, who don't want Iran to participate.
But they said much of the killing in Qubair was done by accompanying groups of pro-government militiamen known as shabiha, who had come from nearby pro-government villages.
The activists said they 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.
"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 of Qubair's residents told the BBC that when the army and militia left the village, he had discovered about 40 bodies - most were women and children who had been stabbed to death. One of Qubair's residents told the BBC that when the army and militia left the village, he had discovered about 40 bodies - mostly women and children who had been stabbed to death.
Among the victims were four members of his family, the villager 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 villager 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.
Later on Wednesday, Syrian state TV quoted an official source as saying that security forces, responding to appeals from citizens, had launched an attack on an "armed terrorist stronghold" in Qubair.Later on Wednesday, Syrian state TV quoted an official source as saying that security forces, responding to appeals from citizens, had launched an attack on an "armed terrorist stronghold" in Qubair.
The security forces came across the bodies of two women and a number of children, bound hand and foot, in the village, who the coroner said had been killed at 10:00, when the "armed terrorist groups" were still in the village, the official added.The security forces came across the bodies of two women and a number of children, bound hand and foot, in the village, who the coroner said had been killed at 10:00, when the "armed terrorist groups" were still in the village, the official added.
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 reports by the media are contributing to spilling the blood of Syrians," the statement added."The reports by the media are contributing to spilling the blood of Syrians," the statement added.
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.
Annan appeal Activists called on UN monitors to investigate the killings.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says there has been no independent confirmation of these latest reports. The 297 unarmed observers are in Syria to verify the implementation of the peace plan negotiated by UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, which includes a ceasefire that supposedly came into force in mid-April.
But the news of the Houla massacre emerged in a similar way and the details given by activists were later confirmed by UN ceasefire observers on the ground, our correspondent adds.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights called on monitors to go immediately.
"They should not wait to tomorrow to investigate this new massacre," it said in a statement. "They should not give the excuse that their mission is only to observe the ceasefire, because many massacres have been committed during their presence in Syria."
The 297 unarmed military observers are in Syria to verify the implementation of the peace plan negotiated by the UN and Arab League envoy, Kofi Annan, including a ceasefire that supposedly came into force in mid-April.
On Thursday, Mr Annan will urge the UN Security Council to create a new contact group to help end the violence, diplomats say. It will include permanent members of the council, and key regional powers.On Thursday, Mr Annan will urge the UN Security Council to create a new contact group to help end the violence, diplomats say. It will include permanent members of the council, and key regional powers.
But the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has already said it is unthinkable to involve in the process a country like Iran, which - she said - was state managing the Syrian government's assault on its own people.But the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has already said it is unthinkable to involve in the process a country like Iran, which - she said - was state managing the Syrian government's assault on its own people.
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