UN monitors enter alleged massacre site in Syria

United Nations monitors have entered the village of Mazraat al-Qubeir, where activists say at least 78 people were massacred, a U.N. source said.

The monitors had been trying to reach the tiny village of about 150 residents since Thursday but had been blocked by Syrian forces and residents from nearby villages.

Some 300 UN observers are in Syria to monitor a never-implemented ceasefire between President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and rebels that was declared by envoy Kofi Annan on 12 April.

Second massacre

If confirmed, the killings in Mazraat al-Qubeir would be the second massacre within two weeks.

UN monitors previously visited the town of Houla where security forces and pro-Assad militia men killed 108 people, nearly half of them children, on 25 May.

The Syrian government condemned the killings in Houla and Mazraat al-Qubeir but said “terrorists” were behind the attacks.

UN monitors tried to enter Mazraat al-Qubeir, a hamlet 20 km northwest of the city of Hama, on Thursday but were stopped at army checkpoints and by civilians in the area.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said monitors trying to reach the village were fired upon.

‘Imminent’ danger

The news comes as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the danger of civil war in Syria is “imminent and real” – as China calls for both sides to halt the violence and implement Mr Annan’s peace plan.

The head of the UN said there was little evidence that Syria’s government was complying with the six-point peace plan.

“The Syrian people are bleeding,” Mr Ban told reporters after addressing the UN Security Council behind closed doors. “They are angry. They want peace and dignity. Above all, they all want action.”

Activists say government-backed militias killed 78 people in Qubair village, near Hama on Wednesday.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Mr Ban condemned the “killing of innocents” at Qubair as “shocking and sickening”.

Mr Annan said his peace plan was not being implemented despite having been accepted by Damascus. He is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington on Friday.

Read Alex Thomson’s blog: In Syria’s hostile territory

China condemns deaths

China called on Friday for both sides in Syria to halt the violence and implement Mr Annan’s peace plan, in the face of pressure to back tougher action against President Assad’s government.

China “strongly condemns” the deaths of innocent civilians and calls for the perpetrators to be punished, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a daily news briefing.

Developments in Syria make Mr Annan’s efforts more, not less, important, Liu added.