UN observers reach Syria massacre village

BEIRUT: United Nations observers on Friday reached the Syrian village of Al-Kubeir where dozens of residents were massacred two days ago, activists said.

The monitors on Thursday were fired at by gunmen and forced to turn back as they tried to reach the village located in the central province of Hama.

"The observers first headed to the village of Maarzaf where the victims were buried and then to Al-Kubeir to survey the damage from army shelling," activist Abdel Karim al-Hamwi said.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 55 people, including women and children, were massacred in Al-Kubeir on Wednesday by pro-regime militiamen known as shabiha.

The government has denied involvement while the international community has denounced the killings with UN chief Ban Ki-Moon warning that Syria stood on the brink of full blown civil war. (AFP)