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U.N. observers shot at in Syria: Ban

07 June 2012 18:27 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. UN observers trying to reach the scene of the latest reported massacre in Syria were shot at with small arms, UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said here on Thursday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The secretary-general, speaking at the UN General Assembly on the latest situation in Syria, called the news of the latest massacre "shocking and sickening."

The unarmed monitors from the UN Supervision Mission in Syria were initially denied access to the reported massacre site in Al Kubeir village of Syria’s central Hama Province, and later on " were shot at with small arms" while trying to get there, Ban said.

"The UN monitors were initially denied access ... They are working now to get to the scene," said Ban. "And I just learned a few minutes ago that, while trying to do so, the UN monitors were shot at with small arms."

However, the secretary-general did not reveal whether any of the monitors were injured.

According to earlier news reports, at least 55 people were killed in the new massacre in central Syria.

"Today’s news reports of another massacre in Al Kubeir and Kafr Zeta are shocking and sickening," Ban said.

"We condemn this unspeakable barbarity and renew our determination to bring those responsible to account," he added.

The secretary-general also called on the Syrian government to fully implement a six-point peace plan proposed by UN-Arab League joint special envoy for Syria Kofi Annan. The plan was widely backed by the international community and also officially accepted by Damascus.

"I therefore call on (Syrian) President (Bashar) Assad to urgently and unconditionally implement the six-point Annan plan," Ban said.

The six-point plan calls for the withdrawal of heavy weapons and troops from population centers, a daily halt in fighting for the delivery of humanitarian aid and treatment for the wounded, as well as talks between the government and the opposition.

"I call on President Assad to allow the UN observer mission to do its work, safely and without interference or intimidation," Ban said. "I call on Syrian authorities to allow UN humanitarian teams to operate freely."

"Finally, I call on all member states to exert their maximum influence -- with both sides -- to help the joint special envoy succeed in this all-important mission," he said. "All violence must end -- by the regime, by the armed opposition."

"Our priorities remain clear: to stop the violence and protect the Syrian people and their rights; to deliver humanitarian aid to those in need; and to advance a political solution to the crisis," Ban stressed.