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UN monitors unable to reach Syrian town of Haffa UN monitors in Syria 'fired on' near Haffa
(about 1 hour later)
UN monitors have said they are unable to reach the town of Haffa in northern Syria, where rebel positions are being bombarded by government forces. UN monitors say they were fired on and forced to turn back as they attempted to reach the town of Haffa in northern Syria, where rebel positions are being bombarded by government forces.
"The security situation is not safe for them to enter," UN spokeswoman Sausan Ghosheh told Reuters. The monitors said stone-throwing crowds stopped them from reaching Haffa and three cars were fired on as they left.
The UN has warned of an alarming escalation in violence and is urging more international diplomatic action. The head of UN peacekeeping says Syria is now in a state of civil war.
The fighting around Haffa comes as the government stands accused of being behind two massacres in the past month. Herve Ladsous told reporters at the UN in New York that large parts of Syria were now outside government control.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon had underlined the importance of "unimpeded access" to Haffa, amid reports of a build-up of government forces around the town. The monitors turned back at the last checkpoint before Haffa, judging the situation "unsafe", a UN spokeswoman said.
As the monitors were leaving the area, the spokeswoman said an angry crowd threw stones and metal bars at the UN team before unknown assailants opened fire.
Mr Ladsous, UN Under-Secretary for Peacekeeping Operations, said the attack on the UN team near Haffa was deliberate.
Asked whether he believed Syria was now in a civil war, Mr Ladsous told a small group of reporters: "Yes, I think we can say that.
"Clearly what is happening is that the government of Syria lost some large chunks of territory, several cities to the opposition, and wants to retake control."
The UN has warned of an alarming escalation in violence in Haffa.
The fighting comes as the Syrian government stands accused of being behind two massacres in the past month.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had underlined the importance of "unimpeded access" to Haffa, amid reports of a build-up of government forces around the town.
Activists said intense shelling had continued in Haffa while say 10 people had been killed in eastern Deir al-Zour.Activists said intense shelling had continued in Haffa while say 10 people had been killed in eastern Deir al-Zour.
"They were at the last checkpoint and the government said 'you can go through', but we deemed it unsafe," Ms Ghosheh said.
'Twist arms''Twist arms'
A spokesman for Kofi Annan said the UN special envoy wanted a new conference to be held soon, but accepted the peace plan was the "only one on the table".A spokesman for Kofi Annan said the UN special envoy wanted a new conference to be held soon, but accepted the peace plan was the "only one on the table".
Mr Annan's spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi, insisted that the UN special envoy's efforts were "coming together" and that "diplomacy had intensified".Mr Annan's spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi, insisted that the UN special envoy's efforts were "coming together" and that "diplomacy had intensified".
Mr Fawzi said it was hoped a meeting of an international contact group to discuss the status of the six-point peace plan for Syria would take place soon, although the date and list of participants had not been decided.Mr Fawzi said it was hoped a meeting of an international contact group to discuss the status of the six-point peace plan for Syria would take place soon, although the date and list of participants had not been decided.
Mr Fawzi said Mr Annan wanted international powers who had influence in Syria to "twist arms" to "put irrevocable pressure on the parties to implement the plan and stop the killing".Mr Fawzi said Mr Annan wanted international powers who had influence in Syria to "twist arms" to "put irrevocable pressure on the parties to implement the plan and stop the killing".
Syrian ally Russia is coming under particular pressure to apply its influence on Damascus.Syrian ally Russia is coming under particular pressure to apply its influence on Damascus.
On Wednesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Iran to discuss Moscow's call for a conference that would involve Tehran - a move strongly opposed by the US. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Iran to discuss Moscow's call for a conference that would involve Tehran - a move strongly opposed by the US.
Meanwhile British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is visiting Pakistan, said foreign military intervention was not being considered for Syria and that all efforts were being made for a peaceful transition. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is visiting Pakistan, said foreign military intervention was not being considered for Syria and that all efforts were being made for a peaceful transition.
"I think we should not think about it in terms of another Libya," he said."I think we should not think about it in terms of another Libya," he said.
'Situation dire''Situation dire'
The diplomatic moves come against a backdrop of intense violence in Haffa, where troops have been besieging rebels for eight days.The diplomatic moves come against a backdrop of intense violence in Haffa, where troops have been besieging rebels for eight days.
Heavy tanks and helicopter gunships are being used, rebels said, with shells raining down.Heavy tanks and helicopter gunships are being used, rebels said, with shells raining down.
One rebel commander from the Free Syrian Army told Reuters: "The situation is dire. Forget the weapons, people need medicine and food. As you know, we're in a state of war in Syria. The army could enter Haffa in minutes if it wanted but it is trying to crush it instead."One rebel commander from the Free Syrian Army told Reuters: "The situation is dire. Forget the weapons, people need medicine and food. As you know, we're in a state of war in Syria. The army could enter Haffa in minutes if it wanted but it is trying to crush it instead."
The rebels said they had brought civilians to the outskirts to try to evacuate them but those areas were also under fire.The rebels said they had brought civilians to the outskirts to try to evacuate them but those areas were also under fire.
US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said there were fears the Syrian government "may be organising another massacre" in Haffa.US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said there were fears the Syrian government "may be organising another massacre" in Haffa.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says Syrian state television has been playing recordings of what it says is an intercepted phone conversation between militants, with one of them ordering the rebels to carry out a massacre of civilians at Haffa, film it, and blame the government.The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says Syrian state television has been playing recordings of what it says is an intercepted phone conversation between militants, with one of them ordering the rebels to carry out a massacre of civilians at Haffa, film it, and blame the government.
Earlier this month, activists said Syrian government forces killed 108 people in the region of Houla, in Homs province, and 78 people in the village of Qubair, in Hama province.Earlier this month, activists said Syrian government forces killed 108 people in the region of Houla, in Homs province, and 78 people in the village of Qubair, in Hama province.
France said on Tuesday it also feared "new massacres" were being prepared in Syria.France said on Tuesday it also feared "new massacres" were being prepared in Syria.
In other reports of violence on Tuesday:In other reports of violence on Tuesday:
  • Activists said the army had shelled a night-time protest in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, killing 11 people
  • In the central city of Homs, an activist told AFP the situation there was "horrific, murderous", with 400 civilians trapped in a school in the Jourat al-Shiah district
  • Syrian state television said two passenger buses were stopped outside Homs by "armed terrorists" and that an unspecified number of people were abducted
  • Activists said Hreitan in the northern Aleppo province was subjected to violent army shelling
  • Activists said the army had shelled a night-time protest in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, killing 11 people
  • In the central city of Homs, an activist told AFP the situation there was "horrific, murderous", with 400 civilians trapped in a school in the Jourat al-Shiah district
  • Syrian state television said two passenger buses were stopped outside Homs by "armed terrorists" and that an unspecified number of people were abducted
  • Activists said Hreitan in the northern Aleppo province was subjected to violent army shelling
There is often no means of providing independent verification of reports within Syria.There is often no means of providing independent verification of reports within Syria.
Separately, a UN report has accused Syrian troops of torturing children and using them as human shields to prevent attacks by opposition forces.Separately, a UN report has accused Syrian troops of torturing children and using them as human shields to prevent attacks by opposition forces.
In its report on children and armed conflict the UN said children were being tortured in detention and slaughtered in massacres.In its report on children and armed conflict the UN said children were being tortured in detention and slaughtered in massacres.