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| New 'massacre' reported in Syria's Hama province | New 'massacre' reported in Syria's Hama province |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Syrian pro-government forces have killed 78 people in a single village in Hama province, many of them women and children, activists say. | Syrian pro-government forces have killed 78 people in a single village in Hama province, many of them women and children, activists say. |
| The opposition said government-backed militia stabbed and shot their victims, the majority in the village of Qubair. | |
| Damascus denied a massacre, saying "terrorists" had killed nine people. | Damascus denied a massacre, saying "terrorists" had killed nine people. |
| Neither account could be confirmed, but activists said 140 had been killed nationwide on Wednesday - one of the bloodiest days of the uprising. | Neither account could be confirmed, but activists said 140 had been killed nationwide on Wednesday - one of the bloodiest days of the uprising. |
| It comes less than two weeks after 108 people were killed in a massacre in Houla. | It comes less than two weeks after 108 people were killed in a massacre in Houla. |
| 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. |
| On Thursday, UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is expected to urge the UN Security Council to create a new contact group to help end the violence. | On Thursday, UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is expected to urge the UN Security Council to create a new contact group to help end the violence. |
| UK Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the "brutal and sickening" killing of civilians and called for concerted international action. | UK Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the "brutal and sickening" killing of civilians and called for concerted international action. |
| 'Heinous crime' | 'Heinous crime' |
| Activist groups reported that Qubair, 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, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of the city of Hama, had come under heavy bombardment from security forces backed by tanks. |
| 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 was done by accompanying groups of pro-government militiamen known as shabiha, who had come from nearby pro-government villages. | But they 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 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. | 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. | "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 - mostly 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. |
| 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. | Troops came across the bodies of two women and a number of children, bound hand and foot. |
| 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 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. | 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. |
| Mr Annan is now thought to want a contact group including permanent members of the Security Council and key regional powers. | Mr Annan is now thought to want a contact group including permanent members of the Security 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. |
| Meanwhile at a regional forum in Beijing, China and Russia have reiterated their opposition to any military intervention or attempts at regime change. | Meanwhile at a regional forum in Beijing, China and Russia have reiterated their opposition to any military intervention or attempts at regime change. |
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