UN fears for civilians as Syrian violence worsens

DHAKA: The UN has warned of an alarming escalation in violence in Syria and urged international powers to increase efforts to make its peace plan work, BBC reports.

A spokesman for Kofi Annan said the UN special envoy wanted a new conference to be held soon, but accepted the peace plan was the "only one on the table".

A truce was agreed in April but the violence shows no sign of abating.

According to BBC, intense shelling continues in Haffa in the north while activists say 10 people were killed in eastern Deir al-Zour.

Syrian troops are bombarding rebel positions in Haffa, and the US has warned that the Syrian government is planning another massacre there.

Separately, a UN report has accused Syrian troops of torturing children and using them as human shields to prevent attacks by opposition forces.

BDST: 1934 HRS, JUN 12, 2012
Edited by: Tilka Binte Mehtab, Newsroom Editor