Ban Hints Regime behind Hama Massacre, Annan Says 'Plan Not being Implemented'

Expressing horror at the latest massacre in Syria, U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan told the major powers on Thursday that it was time to threaten "consequences" if President Bashar Assad does not halt the strife.

Annan and U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon condemned the reported slaughter of dozens of people in the village of al-Qubeir on Wednesday, telling the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly it was time to increase pressure.

Annan expressed "horror and condemnation" at the al-Qubeir killings, which Ban called "shocking and sickening."

"For many months, it has been evident that President Assad and his government have lost all legitimacy," said Ban.

"The trail of blood leads back to those responsible."

Annan, who secured Assad's agreement to a six-point peace plan, grimly told the assembly: "I must be frank and confirm that the plan is not being implemented."

He called for stronger international action to back his peace plan, which includes demands for Assad to pull troops and guns out of cities and halt violence so that political talks can start. But a cessation of hostilities that officially started on April 12 has now all but collapsed.

Annan said the international community had united behind the peace plan "but it now must take that unity to a new level."

"Individual actions or interventions will not resolve the crisis. As we demand compliance with international law and the six-point plan, it must be made clear that there will be consequences if compliance is not forthcoming."

The U.N. envoys for Germany and Britain and Arab League secretary Nabil al-Arabi said that the "consequences" must be sanctions. The United States has called several times for strong sanctions against Assad.

Annan warned that without change in Syria, "the future is likely to be one of brutal repression, massacres, sectarian violence and even all-out civil war."

U.N. leader Ban also called for more determined international action to halt the crisis which Syrian activists say has now left more than 13,000 dead in 15 months of conflict.

"In view of the deteriorating situation, I would welcome further international discussion on how we can act more effectively," he said.

"No one can predict how the situation in Syria will evolve. We must be prepared for any eventuality. We must be ready to respond to many possible scenarios."

Annan was expected to call on the U.N. Security Council later Thursday to set up a contact group bringing together the Western powers and Russia and China in a bid to force Assad into talks.

The envoy could even call for Iran and other key Middle East nations to be let into the group, diplomats said.

With the peace plan floundering, Annan wants the west, Russia and China to join together to increase pressure on Assad to start talks on a process that would eventually force him out of power, according to diplomats.

Annan is considering proposing that Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia join the permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- in the group, The Washington Post and Le Monde reported.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for a meeting on similar lines.

Russia, Syria's major international ally, has protected Assad from action at the U.N. Security Council and most western nations see President Vladimir Putin as the key to applying any effective pressure.

Russia and China have vetoed two council resolutions that merely hinted at sanctions.

"We need to bind Russia into some sort of transition strategy on Syria," said one U.N. diplomat, who highlighted the growing contacts with Russia.

Putin has been in Paris, Berlin and Beijing in the past week. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has had talks with Lavrov, and Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague has also been to Moscow.

Key leaders are expected to hold a meeting on Syria on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico on June 18-19.