Hundreds massacred in Syrian village

BEIRUT – Syrian opposition activists say government forces have massacred more than 200 people, mostly civilians, inside a village in Hama province.

The activists and witnesses say troops shelled the village of Treimsa with tanks and helicopters before storming the area.

A statement by the Hama Revolutionary Council said: “More than 220 people fell today in Traimseh. They died from bombardment by tanks and helicopters, artillery shelling and summary executions.”

The Western-backed resolution also leaves the door open to possible military intervention. But Russia is threatening to veto the resolution. It wants to simply extend the mandate of the U.N. observer mission in Syria for another three months.

Moscow has been one of Syria’s closest allies and has vetoed previous U.N. action.

The Syrian ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf Fares, who has defected to join the opposition, is urging Syrian soldiers to join him. He says there is no honor in killing one’s own people.