Syrian violence continues as UN envoy steps up diplomacy (2)

In a statement carried by the state TV, the army said the armed groups were "desperate" in their attempts to cover up their losses and their plans were foiled by the army.

The statement came a day after activist groups said that as many as 43 people were killed on Sunday in the regime's bombardment of the town of Helfaya on the outskirts of Hama.

The fighting between government troops and armed rebels in Hama has intensified over the past days, adding new hotspots to the country's 22-month crisis that has killed more than 40,000 people, said activists.

The latest violence occurred while the UN envoy for Syria is in the country meeting representatives of the government and opposition to discuss ways to end its protracted crisis.

Syrian opposition members said Tuesday that Brahimi, who arrived on Sunday, will stay for a week to have more meetings with Syrian officials.

Hasan Abdul-Azim, head of the opposition National Coordination Body (NCB), told reporters that he met with Brahimi on Tuesday and the envoy listened to the opposition's voice about possible solutions.

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