UN Monitors Shot At In Syria

The head of the UN has said monitors trying to reach the Syrian village of Qubair, where 78 people are said to have been killed, were fired upon.

None were hurt in the shooting but they have pulled back for the night.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the "killing of innocents" at Qubair as "shocking and sickening".

UN envoy Kofi Annan said his peace plan was not being implemented despite having been accepted by Damascus.

Opposition activists blame the killings at Qubair on pro-government forces but the government accuses "terrorists".

The White House said it strongly condemned "the outrageous targeted killings of civilians including women and children" in Qubair.

The UN has 297 unarmed observers in Syria to verify the implementation of a peace plan negotiated by Mr Annan. It includes a ceasefire, meant to have taken effect in mid-April.

Source: BBC News  

Posted in: Middle East