Apostolic Nuncio to Syria "alarmed" at Tremseh massacre

(Vatican Radio) A suicide bomber blew up his car in a central Syrian town today, killing three civilians and one security officer in the latest violence in the country. Meanwhile, The Holy See’s Nuncio to Syria has added his voice to the condemnation of an attack on a village on Thursday which reportedly left up to 200 people dead. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report.

These latest killings add to the tally of people who have lost there lives in this ongoing conflict in Syria.

A suicide bomber blew up his car killing a number of people in Muhrada which is situated near to the village of Tremseh, where activists say government troops killed up to 200 people on Thursday.

United Nations observers are investigating what exactly happened on that day of carnage.

Meanwhile, The Syrian government continues to insist this was a military operation against rebel fighters.

While the UN continues to probe, there has been widespread condemnation of the killings.

One of those voices is the Apostolic Nuncio to Syria Archbishop Mario Zenari, who spoke of his alarm at this violence.

“I subscribe what the Secretary General of the United Nations said that the inactivity of the United Nations could be understood as a permission to continue to kill, to commit atrocities.”

But where there is despair there is also hope.

“Of course we must also be optimistic because at the end, God has in His hands the history, even if He permits that we are going through some difficulties.

Syria is home to a Christian community who are suffering under bombardment. But despite this, the religious community in the village of Tremseh has decided to remain.

Archbishop Zenari says it is a beautiful and encouraging sign.


“I would say that Christians are suffering, but their presence is very much appreciated, and if we can not do miracles, I think, the most beautiful miracles are our presence among our brothers and sisters, especially our religious communities. The witness of our remaining and suffering with all our brothers and sisters, this is very encouraging.”

This is the reality on the ground as the UN Security Council continues to debate the future of the UN observer mission in Syria, which is set to come to an end on 20 July and those who died in this latest violence are added to the 16 thousand people who are thought to have been killed since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad's regime began in March 2011.