UN chief says monitors ‘shot at‘ in Syria

UN chief Ban ki-Moon has condemned Wednesday’s reported massacre in Syria calling it an “unspeakable barbarity”. He was speaking at the start of a special UN General Assembly session on the Syrian crisis.

Ban told diplomats that UN monitors came under fire when they tried to visit the site in Hama province where at least 78 people were killed.

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

After countless breaches of an internationally agreed ceasefire, UN-Arab League envoy for Syria Kofi Annan was forced to admit his peace plan had not worked.

“Despite the acceptance of the six point plan and the deployment of the courageous mission of the UN observers to Syria I must be frank and confirm that the plan is not implemented.”

Annan said he was “horrified” by Wednesday’s reported massacre and called for firmer action: “The international community has united. But it now must take that unity to a new level, we must find the will and the common ground to act and act as one.”

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