Staff from the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) observed over 50 houses that were burned and/or destroyed, according to a statement issued today that also noted that “pools of blood and brain matter were observed in a number of homes.”

The “consistent account” relayed by 27 local villagers who were interviewed by the UN team indicated that the attack began in the early hours of 12 July with the shelling of the village followed by ground operations.

“According to those interviewed, the army was conducting house to house searches asking for men and their ID cards. They alleged that after checking their identification, numerous were killed. Other men were taken out of the village.

“On the basis of some of the destruction observed in the town and the witness accounts, the attack appears targeted at army defectors and activists,” said the statement. UN observers also confirmed the use of direct and indirect weapons, including artillery, mortars and small arms.

The Mission added that the number of casualties is still unclear and that it is trying to seek further verification.

Thursday’s attack, which reportedly resulted in over 200 deaths, was condemned by UN officials as well as the Joint Special Envoy for the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria, Kofi Annan, who said the attack violated the Government’s commitment to the six-point peace plan.

That plan calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue, and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.

Annan will visit Moscow on Monday for two days of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the crisis in Syria.

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson met today with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Nabil Elaraby, on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa. They shared their strong concerns about the situation in Syria and expressed support for the work of Mr. Annan and the six-point plan.

The UN estimates that more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President Bashar Al-Assad began last year.

The attack on Tremseh “appeared targeted at specific groups and houses, mainly of army defectors and activists,” said a statement issued by the spokesperson for the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS).

“There were pools of blood and blood spatters in rooms of several homes together with bullet cases,” stated the Mission, which also observed a burned school and damaged houses with signs of internal burning in several of them.

“On the basis of this preliminary mission, UNSMIS can confirm that an attack, using a variety of weapons, took place.”

Thursday’s attack, which reportedly resulted in over 200 deaths, was condemned by UN officials as well as the Joint Special Envoy for the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria, Kofi Annan, who said the attack violated the Government’s commitment to the six-point peace plan.

That plan calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue, and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.

The Mission added that the number of casualties is still unclear and that observers plan to go back into Tremseh, located 25 kilometres north-west of the city of Hama, on Sunday to continue their fact-finding visit.

“UNSMIS is deeply concerned about the escalating level of violence in Syria and calls on the Government to cease the use of heavy weapons on population centres and on the parties to put down their weapons and choose the path of non-violence for the welfare of the Syrian people who have suffered enough.”

The UN estimates that more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President Bashar Al-Assad began last year.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed the situation in Syria and the need for the violence to stop at once in a telephone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi today. Mr. Ban called on China to use its influence to ensure the full and immediate implementation of the six-point plan and the communiqué resulting from last month’s meeting of the Action Group on Syria which forged an agreement outlining the steps for a peaceful transition in the country.

“I am shocked and appalled by news coming out of the village of Tremseh, near Hama, of intense fighting, significant casualties, and the confirmed use of heavy weaponry such as artillery, tanks and helicopters,” Annan said in a statement released by his spokesperson.

“This is in violation of the Government’s undertaking to cease the use of heavy weapons in population centres and its commitment to the six-point plan.”

Annan’s six-point plan calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue, and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.

According to media reports, the village was bombarded by helicopter gunships and tanks and then stormed by militiamen who carried out execution-style killings. The victims were mostly civilians and, if confirmed, it would be the worst single incident of violence since the conflict began 16 months ago.

“I condemn these atrocities in the strongest possible terms. It is yet another reminder of the nightmare and the horrors Syrian civilians are being subjected to,” Mr. Annan said. “It is desperately urgent that this violence and brutality stops and more important than ever that governments with influence exert it more effectively to ensure that the violence ends – immediately.”

UN observers in Syria have confirmed the use of mechanized units, indirect fire as well as helicopters in Tremseh yesterday, said the Head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), General Robert Mood.

“From our presence in the Hama province we can verify continuous fighting yesterday in the area,” Gen. Mood told reporters in Damascus, adding that “UNSMIS stands ready to go in and seek verification of the facts, if and when there is a credible ceasefire.”

Under resolution 2043 adopted in April, the Council established UNSMIS – for three months and with up to 300 unarmed military observers – to monitor the cessation of violence in Syria, as well as monitor and support the full implementation of the six-point plan. In mid-June, UNSMIS suspended its monitoring activities due to an escalation of violence.

Gen. Mood underscored that in spite of the obstruction of the mission’s tasks due to the violence, UN observers are still engaging with parties on the ground in various provinces and facilitating local dialogues.

The three-month mandate of UNSMIS ends on 20 July, with the Council expected to meet before then to decide on its future.

The UN estimates that more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President Bashar Al-Assad began last year.