Annan: Assad used heavy weapons in latest Syria massacre

Exactly 4 months after he told us that "the process [in Syria] is on the right track", Kofi Annan says that heavy weapons, artillery, tanks, helicopters were used in the most recent and bloodiest incident yet, and condemns the "atrocities".

Right track, huh?

(JPost) International mediator Kofi Annan said on Friday that Syrian forces had used heavy weaponry against the village of Taramseh, site of a massacre in the rebellious Hama region, in violation of its commitments to his peace plan.

In a statement condemning the "atrocities," Annan voiced shock at the "intense fighting, significant casualties, and the confirmed use of heavy weaponry such as artillery, tanks and helicopters."

UN observers deployed in Syria stood ready to go to Taramseh to verify the facts "as and when circumstances permit", but would require freedom of movement to do their job, he said. If confirmed, it would be the worst single incident of violence in 16 months of conflict in which rebels are fighting to topple President Bashar Assad and diplomacy to halt the bloodshed has been stymied by jostling between world powers.

More than 200 Syrians, mostly civilians, lost their lives in the Taramseh massacre, opposition activists said. The Revolution Leadership Council of Hama told Reuters the Sunni Muslim villagewas subjected on Thursday to a barrage of heavy weapons fire before pro-government Alawite militiamen swept in and killed victims one by one.

"More than 220 people fell today in Taramseh. They died from bombardment by tanks and helicopters, artillery shelling and summary executions," the regional opposition group said in a statement on Thursday evening.

More...