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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 in the village of Qubair. Damascus denied a massacre, saying "terrorists" had killed nine people. | The opposition said government-backed militia stabbed and shot their victims in the village of Qubair. Damascus denied a massacre, saying "terrorists" had killed nine people. |
| Neither account could be confirmed. | Neither account could be confirmed. |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described Wednesday's violence as "unconscionable". | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described Wednesday's violence as "unconscionable". |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. Members of the international community in Damascus say that, contrary to initial reports, most of the people in Houla were killed by gunfire spraying the rooms, not by execution-style killings with a gun placed to the back of the head. Also people's throats were not cut, although one person did have an eye gouged out. | 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. Members of the international community in Damascus say that, contrary to initial reports, most of the people in Houla were killed by gunfire spraying the rooms, not by execution-style killings with a gun placed to the back of the head. Also people's throats were not cut, although one person did have an eye gouged out. |
| 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. |
| 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. | |
| Mrs Clinton said she was willing to work with China and Russia on the initiative, but reiterated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must leave power. | |
| Earlier, at a regional forum in Beijing, China and Russia insisted that they would not support any military intervention or attempts at regime change. | Earlier, at a regional forum in Beijing, China and Russia insisted that they would not support any military intervention or attempts at regime change. |
| The two countries have twice blocked UN Security Council resolutions against Syria. | The two countries have twice blocked UN Security Council resolutions against Syria. |
| 'Heinous crime' | 'Heinous crime' |
| Security forces bombarded Qubair, a village of fewer than 30 houses, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of the city of Hama, according to activists. | Security forces bombarded Qubair, a village of fewer than 30 houses, about 20km (12 miles) north-west of the city of Hama, according to activists. |
| 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. |
| 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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