Syria is now in a full-scale civil war, UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said yesterday, as UN observers reported they were fired on as they tried to enter a town feared to be the target of a new massacre.

UN observers were fired on as they tried to enter a town

The news came as the Syrian government accused Washington of encouraging more massacres in the strife-torn country, which Damascus always attributes to “armed terrorists,” and of meddling in its internal affairs.

Asked whether he believed Syria is in a civil war, Mr Ladsous told a small group of reporters: “Yes I think we can say that. Clearly what is happening is that the government of Syria lost some large chunks of territory, several cities to the opposition, and wants to retake control.”

“There is a massive increase in the level of violence,” Mr Ladsous said.

On the ground, the UN Supervision Mission in Syria said observers trying to reach the north-western town of Al-Haffe were driven back by an angry crowd of people who threw rocks and metal bars at them, and were then fired on by unknown assailants.

“As they were leaving the area, three vehicles heading towards (northwest) Idlib were fired upon,” the UNSMIS statement said. “The source of fire is still unclear.”

Earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “residents of the pro-regime village of As-Sheer blocked the road and prevented the UN observer team from reaching Al-Haffe,” also speaking of the observers being targeted with stones.

The Observatory’s Rami Abdel Rahman said people “lay down on the road blocking access to the vehicles of the observers,” who then began looking for another route to the town, in the province of Latakia.