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Syrian government forces 'retake mountain town of Haffa' Syrian government forces 'retake mountain town of Haffa'
(40 minutes later)
The Syrian government says its forces have taken control of the western mountain town of Haffa, after fierce fighting with rebels who had held it.The Syrian government says its forces have taken control of the western mountain town of Haffa, after fierce fighting with rebels who had held it.
Officials said Haffa had been "purged of terrorists" and calm restored.Officials said Haffa had been "purged of terrorists" and calm restored.
Both sides have predicted a massacre in Haffa. UN monitors tried to visit the town on Tuesday, but had to turn back after they were shot at.Both sides have predicted a massacre in Haffa. UN monitors tried to visit the town on Tuesday, but had to turn back after they were shot at.
Meanwhile both sides have rejected a description of the conflict as a civil war, in remarks by a UN official.Meanwhile both sides have rejected a description of the conflict as a civil war, in remarks 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.
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. On Wednesday, the rebel Free Syrian Army said it had pulled its fighters out of Haffa and nearby villages to spare the residents from further massive bombardments.
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. Syrian state media said government forces had "restored security and calm to the area".
The head of UN peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous, has set the cat among the pigeons 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.
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 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.
According to activists, government forces are combing the area and setting fire to houses of known opposition figures.
Both sides have been predicting a massacre at Haffa and blaming the other for it in advance.
Latakia province, where the town is located, has a big Alawite population, from the minority to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.
The BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says it was pro-regime villagers in the area who apparently attacked the UN convoy in Haffa on Tuesday.
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 have come into effect in April never took hold.
Meanwhile the Local Co-ordination Committees, a network of anti-government groups, reported violence in various parts of Syria on Wednesday.
It said five people had been killed in shelling by government forces in the town of Bosra el-sham near Deraa in the south.
The LCC also said there had been fighting in the city of Rastan, near Homs, and in Deir al-Zour in the east.
Such claims cannot be verified independently as Syria severely restricts journalists' freedom of movement.
Both sides also rejected comments by the head of UN peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, who described the conflict as "a civil war" on Tuesday.
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."
The UN says at least 9,000 people have been killed since pro-democracy protests began in March 2011.The UN says at least 9,000 people have been killed since pro-democracy protests began in March 2011.