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| Renewed fighting erupts across Syria | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fresh fighting has erupted in various parts of Syria, activists say, with at least five people reported killed by government shelling in the south. | Fresh fighting has erupted in various parts of Syria, activists say, with at least five people reported killed by government shelling in the south. |
| The violence comes despite both sides rejecting the characterisation of the conflict as civil war by a UN official. | The violence comes despite both sides rejecting the characterisation of the conflict as civil war by a UN official. |
| The Syrian government insists it is fighting terror groups and rebels say they are defending a peaceful uprising. | The Syrian government insists it is fighting terror groups and rebels say they are defending a peaceful uprising. |
| Both sides have predicted a massacre at the western mountain town of Haffa, where rebel fighters are besieged. | Both sides have predicted a massacre at the western mountain town of Haffa, where rebel fighters are besieged. |
| On Wednesday activists said the rebels were withdrawing from villages around the town. | On Wednesday activists said the rebels were withdrawing from villages around the town. |
| Meanwhile the Local Co-ordination Committees, a network of anti-government groups, said the latest violence included shelling in the town of Bosra el-sham near Deraa in the south. | Meanwhile the Local Co-ordination Committees, a network of anti-government groups, said the latest violence included shelling in the town of Bosra el-sham near Deraa in the south. |
| They said at least five people had been killed there on Wednesday. | They said at least five people had been killed there on Wednesday. |
| The LCC also reported shelling by government forces in the city of Rastan, near Homs, and heavy gunfire in Deir al-Zour in the east. | The LCC also reported shelling by government forces in the city of Rastan, near Homs, and heavy gunfire in Deir al-Zour in the east. |
| The head of UN peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous, has set the cat among the pigeon in agreeing that the conflict in Syria can now be seen as a civil war. | The head of UN peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous, has set the cat among the pigeon in agreeing that the conflict in Syria can now be seen as a civil war. |
| One problem is that there is no universally accepted definition of civil war, though by most definitions, Mr Ladsous is probably right. | One problem is that there is no universally accepted definition of civil war, though by most definitions, Mr Ladsous is probably right. |
| The label has been rejected by both sides in the conflict itself, because it puts them on the same level as the other. The government says it is suppressing armed terrorists to restore security, law and order. | The label has been rejected by both sides in the conflict itself, because it puts them on the same level as the other. The government says it is suppressing armed terrorists to restore security, law and order. |
| The opposition says it is still a peaceful civil uprising which is trying to defend itself against state violence, and that calling it "civil war" is equating victim with killer. | The opposition says it is still a peaceful civil uprising which is trying to defend itself against state violence, and that calling it "civil war" is equating victim with killer. |
| The appellation has not become official UN policy, and the observer mission headquarters in Damascus has reassured the government that the statement did not come from it. | The appellation has not become official UN policy, and the observer mission headquarters in Damascus has reassured the government that the statement did not come from it. |
| On Tuesday, activists said at least 60 people had been killed across the country. | On Tuesday, activists said at least 60 people had been killed across the country. |
| Such claims cannot be verified independently as Syria severely restricts journalists' freedom of movement. | Such claims cannot be verified independently as Syria severely restricts journalists' freedom of movement. |
| Monitors blocked | Monitors blocked |
| On Tuesday the head UN peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, characterised the conflict as "a civil war" during an interview in New York. | On Tuesday the head UN peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, characterised the conflict as "a civil war" during an interview in New York. |
| Mr Ladsous told a small group of reporters: "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." | Mr Ladsous told a small group of reporters: "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." |
| However there were angry reactions by both sides. The foreign ministry said: "Talk of civil war in Syria is not consistent with reality... What is happening in Syria is a war against armed groups that choose terrorism." | |
| Opposition groups say this was not a civil war, but a peaceful uprising. | Opposition groups say this was not a civil war, but a peaceful uprising. |
| The UN and the US have warned of an alarming escalation in violence in Haffa, amid reports of a build-up of government forces around the town. | The UN and the US have warned of an alarming escalation in violence in Haffa, amid reports of a build-up of government forces around the town. |
| UN monitors say they were shot at and prevented from reaching the town on Tuesday. Monitors judged the situation to be "unsafe" and turned back, a UN spokeswoman said. | UN monitors say they were shot at and prevented from reaching the town on Tuesday. Monitors judged the situation to be "unsafe" and turned back, a UN spokeswoman said. |
| The UN monitors are in Syria to observe the implementation of a peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. However, a ceasefire which was supposed to come into effect in April never took hold. | |
| Also on Tuesday, the US criticised Russian sales of arms to Syria. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the latest information indicated that attack helicopters were on their way from Russia to Syria - a move she said would escalate the conflict dramatically. | |
| Meanwhile, Turkey expressed concern about the number of Syrian refugees crossing into Turkey. | |
| "We are disturbed by the possibility that it could spread to us," Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru told state TV on Wednesday. | |
| He said 1,400 more Syrian refugees had arrived in the past two days in Turkey, increasing the total number to more than 29,000. | |
| 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. |
| The UN says at least 9,000 people have been killed since pro-democracy protests began in March 2011. |