UN Says Deadly Attack Targeted Syrian Opposition

Syrians mourn over Mohammed Hafez, 30, who was killed by a gunshot to the head in Izaz, July 13, 2012

United Nations observers investigating a deadly attack on a Syrian village say they have found signs that the assault targeted the homes of specific opponents of the regime.

The observers visited the village of Tremseh, where activists say more than 150 people were killed on Thursday.

Deaths Across Syria

The team said it could not confirm the toll. The observers say they did find evidence that a variety of weapons, including artillery, mortars and small arms, was used in the assault on the Sunni farming village in Hama province.

On Friday, U.N. envoy Kofi Annan blamed government forces and armed militiamen for what he called "atrocities" in Tremseh. Syrian state media blamed terrorists for the massacres.

Meanwhile, the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights tells VOA at least 31 people were killed in anti-government-related violence across Syria on Saturday. Activists also say Syrian forces pounded the southern town of Khirbet Ghazaleh.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.