Asked whether he believed Syria is in a civil war, UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said: “Yes I think we can say that ... I think there is a massive increase in the level of violence, so massive indeed that in a way it indicates some change of nature in the conflict. Now we have confirmed reports of not only of the use of tanks and artillery but also attack copters.”

Ladsous also gave details on the firing against UN observers near Al-Haffe.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused Russia yesterday of sending attack helicopters to Syria, saying Moscow is lying about its arms shipments.

A Saudi trade body cancelled yesterday a meeting with a Russian delegation of businessmen in protest at Moscow’s position.

Source: UN News and Arab News