Syria now in full-scale civil war: UN

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

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, 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," Ladsous said. On the ground, the UN Supervision Mission in Syria said observers trying to reach the northwestern 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 into to the town, in the province of Latakia.

 In its statement, the Syrian foreign ministry struck back by saying "the US administration is pushing forth with its flagrant interference in Syria's internal affairs and its backing of armed terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, the UN accused Syrian troops of using children as "human shields", as it branded Damascus one of the worst offenders on its annual "list of shame" of conflict countries.

Children as young as nine had been victims of killing and maiming, arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, a report said.

At least 36 people were killed in shelling and clashes across Syria on Tuesday, 24 of them civilians and 12 soldiers, the Observatory said. More than 14,100 people have been killed in Syria since the anti-regime revolt erupted in March 2011, according to the Observatory.