UN Observers in Syria Visit Massacre Site Near Hama

June 09, 2012

Syrians at a funeral in Daraa on Friday carry the body of a man who protesters say was killed by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

United Nations observers in Syria have visited the site of this week's killings near the city of Hama. Activists said at least seventy-eight people, including women and children, were killed in the village of Mazraat al-Qubeir.

Earlier attempts by observers to enter the village had failed. The U.N. says gunmen had shot at the unarmed observers and blocked them from investigating.

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A woman who said she lives in the village spoke in an amateur video. She said government-supported militiamen from nearby villages were responsible for the attack.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed the recent attacks on foreign-supported terrorist groups. These include the killings last month in Houla.

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The violence appeared to intensify across parts of Syria on Friday. Opposition activists reported fresh government attacks in several areas. Large opposition protests also took place around the country, including in Syria's second largest city, Aleppo.

Peter Harling is an analyst with the International Crisis Group. The group works to prevent and solve deadly conflict. He says the conflict in Syria will likely move increasingly to Damascus.