General Robert Mood, the head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, says UN obsevers have been prevented from reaching the village in Hama province where activists report a 'massacre'. He says in a statement:

"UNSMIS dispatched UN Observers to Mazraat al-Qubeir, early Thursday morning, to verify reports of large-scale killings in the village. The observers have not yet been able to reach the village. Their mission is being obstructed by three factors:

1. They are being stopped at Syrian Army checkpoints and in some cases turned back.

2. Some of our patrols are being stopped by civilians in the area.

3. We are receiving information from residents of the area that the safety of our observers is at risk if we enter village of Mazraat al-Qubeir.

Despite these challenges, the observers are still working to get into the village to try to establish the facts on the ground. UNSMIS is concerned about the restriction imposed on its movement as it will impede our ability to monitor, observe and report.