Syria gov't denies claim of massacre

The BBC says Syria has rejected claims by the United Nations (UN) that it used heavy weapons in an attack on the village of Tremseh on Thursday.

It accused UN and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan of "rushed" comments, adding that only troop carriers and small arms were used in the operation.
Syria says what occurred were armed clashes, not a massacre, with only 37 recorded deaths, which is far short of the 200 or so deaths activists have suggested.

UN observers have returned to Tremseh to continue investigations. They still need to determine how many people died, who they were and exactly who carried out the attack.