UN car damaged in Syria blast

File picture: United Nations monitors trying to reach the Syrian town of Haffeh on Tuesday were turned back by angry crowds who threw stones and metals rods at them, and three U.N. vehicles were fired upon as they left the area.

File picture: United Nations monitors trying to reach the Syrian town of Haffeh on Tuesday were turned back by angry crowds who threw stones and metals rods at them, and three U.N. vehicles were fired upon as they left the area.

Published May 15, 2012

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Beirut - A car belonging to U.N. monitors was damaged by an explosion while they toured the central Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun on Tuesday but none of the monitors was hurt, a member of the observer team said.

“We went to observe and after a while shooting occurred,” he told Reuters by telephone, adding that the shooting was followed by the blast which damaged the car.

The seven-strong team had lost their vehicles and were trying to organise a safe return to their base, he said without giving details. Another monitor and a member of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said they were with FSA rebels.

Internet footage which activists said was filed in Khan Sheikhoun on Tuesday showed a white car of the type used by U.N. monitors, with damage to its front which could have been caused by a blast or a collision.

“We are safe with the Free Army and we are waiting for a (U.N.) group to pick us up,” the second monitor said. - Reuters

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