UN observers enter mountainous enclave in Syria

[June 14, 2012]  DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- Witnesses say a team of United Nations observers has entered the Syrian town of Haffa, one day after the government overran the area near the Mediterranean coast.

The observers stopped by the burned-out building of the ruling Baath party's local branch during Thursday's visit.

The observers have been trying to get into Haffa in the coastal Latakia province for a week. The mountain enclave has been the scene of intense clashes between troops and hundreds of rebels holed up there. Authorities said Wednesday they "cleansed" the area.

On Tuesday, an angry crowd hurled rocks and sticks at the U.N. mission's vehicles near Haffa, forcing them to turn back.

[Associated Press; By ALBERT AJI and ZEINA KARAM]

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