Observers unable to reach site of killings

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Syrian troops and local residents are preventing UN observers from reaching a site where 55 people were reportedly killed by pro-government militants, the head of the UN mission in Syria said on Thursday.

"The UN Supervision Mission in Syria dispatched UN observers to Al-Kubeir early on Thursday morning to verify reports of large-scale killings in the village," Major General Robert Mood said in a statement.

He said the observers were stopped at Syrian army checkpoints and in some cases turned back. He said civilians were also stopping the monitors.

"We are receiving information from residents of the area that the safety of our observers is at risk if we enter (the) village of Al-Kubeir," Mood said.

"Despite these challenges, the observers are still working to get into the village to try to establish the facts on the ground," he added.

Mood said he was concerned that the restrictions imposed on the movement of the monitors will impede their ability to carry out their mission.

The opposition has blamed the killings on militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad's rule, which denied involvement.

The government said a "terrorist group" was behind an assault in Al-Kubeir that left nine people dead.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Assad on Thursday to hand over power and leave his country, condemning a massacre near the town of Hama that opponents have blamed on his supporters as "unconscionable".

As the violence in Syria is still going on, a leading Syrian opposition figure has blamed some Arab and Western countries for lack of seriousness to push for the implementation of the six-point peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League special envoy for Syria Kofi Annan.

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Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.