UN observers have confirmed over 90 people, including 32 children, were killed in a massacre in the Syrian city of Houla.
The observers were met by horrific scenes when they arrived at Houla to inspect the site.
Some of the victims died through shelling, others were stabbed, shot or bludgeoned to death. Videos posted on YouTube indicate people were summarily executed.
The head of the UN mission, Maj-Gen Robert Mood told the BBC the killing in Houla was "indiscriminate and unforgivable".
The ceasefire brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan looks increasingly worthless, with the Free Syrian Army saying it cannot commit to the ceasefire, unless the Security Council can ensure the safety of civilians.
A joint statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Mr Annan condemned the attack on civilians as a “fragrant violation of international law” and that Mr Ban will contact the Syrian government to "convey in the clearest terms the expectations of the international community, and he will also do so during his forthcoming visit to Syria".
The BBC reports that locals are angry with the UN observers as they failed to take action while the massacre was happening.
"We told them at night, we called seven of them. We told them the massacre is being committed right now at Houla by the mercenaries of this regime and they just refused to come and stop the massacre." said Abu Emad from Houla to the BBC.